OTE and COSMOTE support the digitisation of the libraries of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Theological School of Halki

OTE Chairman and CEO, Mr. Michael Tsamaz, travelled to Constantinople to personally inform the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of the support that the two companies will provide for the digitisation and documentation of the Patriarchate’s libraries.

Both libraries are an intrinsic part of the Orthodox history and form the core of theological thought. The Patriarchate’s library dates back to the first century A.D. and is probably the oldest library of Christianity, containing more than 50,000 volumes. The library of the Theological School of Halki, which was founded during the byzantine era, is considered to be home to a wealth of rare books and a great number of manuscripts, totalling 30,000 volumes.

With the support of OTE and COSMOTE the digitised collections will be more easily available, as well as easier to study and analyse. A project team, consisting of special advisors, analysts and engineers will develop the IT infrastructure that will allow the digitisation, documentation and promotion of the print cultural documents kept in the Patriarchate and the Theological School.

It is not the first time that OTE and COSMOTE bring technology to the service of history and culture. As part of their respective Corporate Responsibility programmes, OTE has established a long-running collaboration with the Benaki Museum for the digitisation of the latter’s archive, while COSMOTE has contributed to the digitisation of the Historical Archive of the Public Historical Library of Andritsaina. It is the first time though that a project of this scale and importance for both Hellenism across the world as well as for global knowledge is taking place.

Mr. Tsamaz stated: “In the framework of the Corporate Responsibility activities of OTE and COSMOTE we have decided to support the digitisation of the historical archive of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and of the Theological School of Halki, which are an integral part of our cultural heritage. This heritage will keep us united, give us hope and guide us through today’s difficulties.”