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The Monasteries of Mount Athos possess and manage the largest collection of Greek manuscript codes in the world (approximately 15,000), dating from the 4th to the 19th century.???? The Monasteries of Mount Athos possess and manage the largest collection of Greek manuscript codes in the world (approximately 15,000), dating from the 4th to the 19th century.

The manuscripts, in parchment and paper, preserved in Mount Athos cover a large thematic area -from religious subjects to scientific and philosophical treatises-, decorated with priceless illuminations and decorations that renders them works of art.

The majority of the manuscripts preserved in the monasteries of Mount Athos are written in Greek language, which amount to more than 15,000. Furthermore, there are also:
(a) collections of Slavonic manuscripts (more than 1500) to be found both in Slavonic Monasteries, such as Chilandariou, Zografou or St. Panteleimonos, as well as in Greek Monasteries, and
(b) 100 approximately large Georgian manuscripts to be found in Iveron Monastery.

The manuscripts date from the 10th to the early 20th century. They are usually bulky, stacked (sometimes with wooden signs) written in parchment or paper.

A good number of them are adorned with illuminations and / or individual decorative elements (titles, initials, etc.). Many manuscripts contain works of ancient Greek, Byzantine, post Byzantine and modern secular literature: ancient Greek authors, Byzantine and post-Byzantine secular writers (historians, philosophers, literature) etc.

All of the monasteries posses musical manuscripts (church music).