The codex contains part of the Gospel of John (16:3-19:41), with a commentary on 6 parchment leaves (29 cm by 18.5 cm). It is written in one column per page, 36 lines per page,[2] in about 27 letters in line. The letters are small, the parchment is thick, the ink is brown. It contains lectionary markings at the margin (for liturgical service).[3]
The text is divided according to the Ammonian Sections, whose numbers are given in the margin of the text, but without references to the Eusebian Canons.[4]
It belongs to the same manuscript to which minuscule codex 392 belongs (folios 7-391).
Currently it is dated by the INTF to the 8th century.[5]
It was found in the 17th century by Cardinal Francesco Barberini (hence name of the codex).[4] It was examined by Scholz. The text of the codex was published by Tischendorf in 1846 (Monumenta sacra).[6]
The codex is now located in the Vatican Library (Barberini Gr. 521, fol. 1-6).[2][5]
