Images from biblical scenes and events, such as the Baptism and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, illustrated gospels, properties of medicinal or poisonous plants, Sophocles’ manuscripts and Aristophanes’ comedies, and even military art manuals on how to fight in Byzantium reveal to the researcher and reader the hidden treasures and codes found in the microfilms, miniatures and manuscripts of the historical archive of the Patriarchal Institute of Patriarchal Studies and the Holy Royal Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of Vlatades.
Codex 587 of the Monastery of Dionysiou and the Codices of Dioscorides and Galen
A special place in the archive is occupied by the well-known Codex 587 of the Monastery of Dionysiou, which has been attracting for years the interest not only of theologians but also of art historians who believe that there is no other similar manuscript anywhere.
The Codex De Materia Medica of Dioscorides, which is located in Vienna, is considered to be of similar importance.
In the same spirit, but in contrast to Dioscorides, Codex 14 of Vlatades was created by Galen, the second most important physician of antiquity, after Hippocrates. This codex is considered one of the most remarkable codices and there are still researchers, agronomists, pharmacologists who deal with medicine and look for relevant material in these microfilms.
The certainty that the study of this archive will reveal even more in the future is expressed by the head of the micro-film archive of the Foundation, Anna Lysikatos. “From the past we are essentially discovering the future. Through the study of scientists from all over the world who come here, people are trying to answer questions that they cannot approach from today’s sources” Anna Lysikatos said.
Source: ANA-MPA
