Library of the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, Patmos

The National Hellenic Research Foundation has had a longstanding engagement with the Patmos monastic manuscript library, whose fruits include the first volume of the New Patmian Library (A. Komines, 1988), the Tables of Dated Patmian Codices (by the same author, 1968), and a series of specialized studies. This project aims at continuing the preparation of the comprehensive analytical catalogues of the monastery’s manuscripts, which will supersede the now outdated catalogues issued by I. Sakkelion (1890) and D. Kallimachos (1912–1918), and at producing specialized catalogues such as those of the illuminated codices. Parallel investigations address particular questions, including the history of the collection and its bindings. The project is founded on long-standing collaboration with the Holy Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and benefits from the participation of faculty members from various Greek universities and other researchers.

Current Work

1. Catalogue of Manuscripts nos. 102-201 of the Monastery of Patmos (Ζ. Melissakis).
2. Catalogue of Manuscripts nos. 405-471 of the Monastery of Patmos (S. Paschalidis).
3. Catalogue of Manuscripts nos. 514-578 of the Monastery of Patmos (D. Stratigopoulos).
4. Catalogue of the Illuminated Manuscripts of the Monastery of Patmos (N. Ševčenko, in collaboration with N. Melvani).

The descriptive methodology adopted for these catalogues follows that of the first volume (1988), augmented, however, to meet all current requirements of Greek palaeography and codicology.