The Ecumenical Patriarch on the importance of preserving the Patriarchal Archivestranslated

The Ecumenical Patriarch mentioned the importance of the Patriarchal Archives as a valuable legacy of historical memory and culture. Bartholomew, announcing the opening of the scientific conference on "The Patriarchal Archives as custodians of historical memory and culture", which took place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Patriarchal Urban School of Maraslis. As he underlined, the archival documents reflect the centuries-long course and ministry of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as they save patriarchal and synodal acts, correspondence, codes and other documents that illuminate both church history and the social, educational, economic and cultural life of the peoples.

"Behind the official language of a document there is often a community that asks for support, a school that needs care, a Monastery that defends the continuation of its presence," he said characteristically, highlighting the human dimension of historical sources.

His Holiness emphasized that the protection, preservation and scientific exploitation of archival wealth constitute a substantial contribution to knowledge and historical research, pointing out...