The Patriarchate of Alexandria with the Library of Alexandria (Biblioteca Alexandrina), together with the A.G. Leventis Foundation of Cyprus, are uniting their forces to renovate one of the most important pieces of the Patriarchate’s history.
Out of the vast wealth of knowledge, culture and history of the Patriarchal Library, which includes more than 40,000 volumes of books, 3,000 incunabula and 530 unique manuscripts, Alexandria and Cyprus chose to restore one hundred manuscripts.
In the framework of this programme, out of the hundred manuscripts received by Biblioteca Alexandrina from the ancient Patriarchate, the restoration of 68 manuscripts has already been completed and by the end of 2020 they will have completed the restoration of the rest.
Then, a volume, including the 100 (restored) manuscripts of the Patriarchate, will be published. The publishing is undertaken by the Library of Alexandria, and will be completed with the great financial support and funding of the A.G. Leventis Foundation.
The first manuscripts date from 1796, the year of the first official list of the manuscripts and codes contained in the Patriarchal Library by Patriarch Parthenios II of Alexandria.
“Wherever I am in the world fora, I always talk about the Library of Alexandria,” said Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria and All Africa, welcoming the warm reception by the Director of the Library, Dr Mοstafa El Feki.
Finally, the Patriarch stressed the excellent cooperation that they may also have in this area with the new Greek Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, who has taken the office of the “Archontissa” of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, while at the same time he spoke about Mrs. Marianna Vardinoyannis and her work at the Library of Alexandria.
He also stressed the efforts of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in the creation of the Center of Hellenism, which he wants to create at the Averoff Mansion, at Fouad Street in Alexandria.
