Simeon Simonovich, Archimandrite of Jerusalem, “OPISANIE S[VIA]TAGO B[O]ZHIYA GRADA IER[USA]LIMA” [A DESCRIPTION OF GODS HOLY CITY OF JERUSALEM]. [MOSCOW], 1771, bound with 68 pages of MANUSCRIPT TEXT in Church Slavonic language. Small 4to (20 x 16.5cm.), pp.4-53 (missing pages 2-3). Text in Church Slavonic, Illustrated throughout with 70 finely engraved views of holy places and scenes. Printed on one side of the leaf only. Bound together with 3 different manuscript texts: 1) 4 loose pages unnumbered watermarked paper with 2 pages of hand-drawn sketches & 2 pages of text in black & brown ink, Initials and finely decorated headpiece in red ink. 2) 22 pages with fine handwritten text in black ink, highlighted text in red and decorated initials in red ink. 3) 42 numbered pages with panelled text in Church Slavonic language, in black ink. Initials in red, decorated headpieces in red & black ink and 2 pages with text in circles surrounded with floral decorations in red & black ink. This illustrated guide to the churches and holy places of Jerusalem was written for pilgrims from the Eastern Orthodox Church which had a strong tradition of pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The text includes the biblical significance of various sites and it had a wide circulation. This scarce work is accompanied here with 3 different manuscript texts. (For the printed book: Tobler pp.116, Obolianinov 1920) Condition: 19th cent. paper boards, trimmed, loss of more than half of book title page small part of page.4, wormholes on inner joints until page 6 & signs of wormholes until page 10, 2 sheets detached. 2 pages with holes on manuscript texts, occasional paper enhancement on few sheet joints. Extensive wear on parts of spine and board edges. Most inner pages and engravings in Fine condition.