The contribution of abbot Alcuin (735-804) to the history of the libelli precum: a prayer book for Charlemagne

This article touches on the question of Alcuin’s creativity in the field of private prayer rules, namely, his contribution to the creation of a prayer book for Charlemagne - the Libellus de ratione orationis. Te author reviews the main research concerning the reconstruction of the structure of this prayer book and provides the most probable such reconstruction. For the first part of the Libellus de ratione orationis, both the schema and the partially reconstructed texts are described, while for the second part, only a description of the probable structure is possible. Particular attention is paid to Alcuin’s system of hours of prayer, designed to regulate the daily prayer practice of Charlemagne and laymen by bringing it closer to the liturgical cycle. A short description is given of the psalm series, which forms the basis of the Libellus de ratione orationis. Te probable scheme of the prayer book in the semantic sense is subordinated to the principle of incessant prayer. Te structure of Alcuin’s prayer book for Charlemagne was reflected in most of the early medieval prayer books regulating the liturgical preparation of the laity for participating in the Mass