Greek monastery manuscripts looted in WWI rediscovered in US office renovation

·

Three Greek-language manuscripts, believed to have been stolen from the Theotokos Eikosiphoinissa Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monastery (also known as Kosinitza) during World War I, were recently rediscovered in Manhattan, New York Times (NYT) has reported.

The three Greek-language manuscripts from the 16th and 17th centuries were sold in 2008 by Manhattan’s Swann Auction Galleries to an antiquities dealer.

After concluding the manuscripts might have been looted, the dealer returned them two years later and was reimbursed.

According to the NYT, the auction house was unable to reach the person who had consigned the items. So they sat on a shelf for more than a decade.

Monastery of Panagia Eikosifinissa. Photo by Nikolaos Karampetakis via Wikimedia Commons.

The manuscripts resurfaced three months ago when Swann’s chief financial officer went through his office prior to a renovation.

The looted manuscripts will be sent back to the monastery, and their return was commemorated on Friday in a repatriation ceremony in Lower Manhattan.

After the ceremony, arranged by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America is planning to travel to Constantinople to deliver the manuscripts to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church. From there, the items will go back to Kosinitza.

Source: New York Times

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Archbishop Makarios of Australia issues Easter Message for 2025

Archbishop Makarios of Australia has released his 2025 Easter message, reflecting on the impact of loneliness.

Comic author Peter Barber and his Greek Orthodox Easter ‘adventures’

Award-winning British author Peter Barber writes books about… Greece. So far, he has published five books about his second, or first, home!

Peter Dutton MP’s Easter message: Honouring faith and the Greek Australian legacy

Australia’s Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton MP, has issued a message to Greek communities to mark Orthodox Easter today.

Anthony Albanese MP praises Greek community in heartfelt Easter message

Federal Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, has sent a message to mark Orthodox Easter this year. Read the full message here.

High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia sends heartfelt Easter wishes

High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, Antonis Sammoutis, sends a message for Orthodox Easter.

You May Also Like

George Vardas says Greece must ‘seize the day’ after UNESCO decision on Parthenon Sculptures

VP of the Australian Parthenon Committee, George Vardas, says Greece must 'seize the day' after UNESCO decision on Parthenon Sculptures.

National Museum of Australia applauds major budget funding boost

The National Museum of Australia has applauded a federal government announcement of a $78.3 million funding boost over the next four years.

Cladding removal from first of 214 towers in NSW won’t start until end of year

Work will start on removing combustible cladding from the first of 214 high-rise residential buildings in Sydney late this year.