On 3rd January 2018, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, welcomed to the Patriarchal Mansion the Director of the Βibliotheca Alexandrina, the new Library of Alexandria, Dr. Mostafa El Feki, accompanied by the Deputy Chairlady of the Institute and a seventeen person group of Department Heads of all the Departments of the famous Library.
The high-ranking Diplomat, Professor El Feki, who is greatly experienced in the political and cultural fields, visited the Patriarchate, in order to get to know the Patriarchal Library at first hand.
During their meeting the Patriarch referred to the strong political and cultural bonds connecting the two Libraries, as both are the product of Hellenic thought and Education.
As is known, during the Hellenistic period, the famous Library of Alexandria was founded, under the rule of Ptolemy I (Sotiras) by Aristotle’s pupil and philosopher, Dimitrios Falireus. The Patriarchal Library, following the fate of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in its historical course over time, has early Christian roots and is probably an extension of the ancient, rich and famous Library of Alexandria.
During the meeting the Director handed over to the Alexandrian Primate two more preserved and digitalized manuscripts from the Patriarchal Library of the 17th century, restored to the state-of-the-art facilities of the Manuscript Conservation Department of the New Library of Alexandria.
The preservation of the manuscripts is carried out with the noble sponsorship of the ‘AG Leventis Foundation’, contributing decisively to the preservation of our cultural heritage. It is worth noting the great contribution to the effort of the Director of the ‘AG Leventis Foundation’ in Cyprus, Professor of Byzantine Studies, Mr. Charalambos Bakirtzis.
