Old monuments of literature from Moscow Theological Academy library restored in Cyprus

On March 7, 2019, an old manuscript and a book published in the early 18^th century in Russia from the library of Moscow Theological Academy, which have been restored in Cyprus by specialists of the Kykkos monastery specialists, were handed over in a ceremony to the Russian side in the presence of His Beatitude Chrysostomos, Archbishop of Cyprusю, and the Russian ambassador to Cyprus S. Osadchiy.

The project for restoration of literary monuments, with the oldest one dated back to the 17^th century, began in September 2018 with the support of the Russian embassy and the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) representation in Cyprus and initiated a fundamentally new format for strengthening Russia-Cyprus cooperation. Notably, this initiative has exceeded the framework of exclusively inter-church cooperation to become supported by representatives of the public, state structures and business community.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus expressed gratitude to the Russian embassy and the Rossotrudnichestvo representation for continued effective assistance and thanked the leader of the group of restorers from the Kykkos monastery, Stavros Andreou, for the work, expressing the intention to deepen the cooperation. According to Archbishop Chrysostom, interaction in the restoration of books and manuscripts is a truly significant and important endeavour for both Cyprus and Russia.

Hegumen Dionisy (Shlenov), director of the MTA library noted, who represented the Russian Orthodox Church at the ceremony, said that ‘the cooperation between Moscow Theological Academy and the Kykkos Monastery is an example of how unity can be effectively manifested at a time when many unshakable traditions are eroding. It is gratifying that the restoration work was carried out all together as it found active support among very diverse people in the societies in Cyprus and Russia’.

The restored monuments of literature are a book and a manuscript in Slavonic and Greek respectively from the book depository of the academic library in the St. Sergius Laura of the Trinity. The copies had been chosen for restoration by Hegumen Dionisy (Shlenov).

MTA Press Service

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Old monuments of literature from Moscow Theological Academy library restored in Cyprus

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Department Chairman

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Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons