The Gospel Book on display was written in the Principality of Tver in 1478, i.e. in the late years of its independence. Seven years later, following the collapse of the Golden Horde, the principality became part of united Moscovy.
The book consists of 322 pages. It combines the Four Gospels of the New Testament and the Aprakos, i.e. readings arranged in the calendar order. The Gospel Book was written in the half-uncial style – a more rounded version of the Cyrillic writing font. All entries are accompanied by colourful vignettes and medallions. Pages are also decorated with coloured entries, initials and miniature pictures.
The Gospel Book covered with yellow velvet is partially enclosed in a metal cover with shaped plates, knops and corner pieces. The edging is decorated with embossing. Copper locks on leather straps tightly fix the book binding covers.
The original binding cover of this Tver Gospel Book was lost. In the 18th century, it was renovated while keeping the gold-covered silver plates going back to the 15th century with embossed images of the four Gospel writers and a crucifix.
Analysts believe that this tome was written by Bassian, Bishop of Tver, in the worldly life known as Prince Vasily Strigin-Obolensky. His authorship is evidenced by the record made on the reverse side of the last page,

It is still not certain how this rare book happened to be in Kazan. The prevailing version says that it was brought to the city by Archimandrite Barsanuphius. The latter used to be Father Superior of the Monastery of Our Saviour in the Kazan Kremlin until redirected to the Tver Diocese where he took the gown of the Bishop of Tver. Allegedly, in the late 16th century, he returned to Kazan bringing along the Gospel Book.
Another version says that the Gospel Book was brought to Kazan by St. Archbishop Gurius along with the rest of his library collection. He was called to the city of Kazan with a view to set up the Kazan Diocese and became its first archbishop. It is a known fact that both icons and books were then collected across monasteries and churches specifically for the newly established diocese. Thus, it is possible that this Gospel Book was among such collected items.
According to Gennady Nikolaev, Doctor of Letters at Kazan Federal University, it was the activity undertaken by the first three hierarchs of Kazan, i.e. Gurius, Barsanuphius and Herman, that contributed to development of the book publishing industry in the city of Kazan in the second half of the 16th century, which included correspondence, book collection and safe-keeping, s well as creation of libraries at monasteries and churches.