Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the Cappadocian Studies Center “I Nazianzos”, was signed by the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni and the President of the Center, Kaplanis A. Iosifidis.
The aim of the memorandum is the comprehensive “protection and promotion of the collections of the Center for Cappadocian Studies “I Nazianzos” in Nea Karvali Kavala, the management and promotion of its collections, such as evidence and cultural assets, related to the tradition of Cappadocian Hellenism, but also objects of material culture of the pre-industrial period, from all over Greece.
The Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, stated: “With the signing of this memorandum, the competent services of the Ministry will proceed with the systematic registration, documentation and maintenance that the material, which has been collected and is indeed very valuable, requires in many cases, and is automatically protected by archaeological law. The objects come from the collections of the monasteries of Cappadocia, which were brought to Greece in a systematic and organized manner by the Monastic Council and the collective bodies of the exchangeables in 1924. They constitute a rare set of movable monuments, some of which date back to the Byzantine period and the first centuries after the Fall. This heritage is very important not only for the Cappadocians, but for the entire Hellenism. Their registration and digitalization by YPPO is the first step towards their effective preservation. These objects are national monuments. They belong to the Greek people. We must deal with them with the ethics defined by archaeological law.”
The collections include an archive of documents, firmans, photographs, oral testimonies, maps, engravings and a musical archive, the Library of the Monasteries of the Diocese of Nazianzu, consisting of ancient publications, parchments and books in the Karamanlid language and script, vestments (secular and clerical), carpets.
Their origin and history were recorded in detail by Stavros Antoniadis in the so-called “Code of Monasteries”, making the collection unique in Greece in this respect. Furthermore, most of the objects have a “biography”, that is, the donors left what they knew about their origin and use. The Memorandum provides for joint actions such as, among others: Registration and documentation of mobiles in the National Archive of Monuments by the competent Directorate of the National Archive of Monuments, preventive maintenance of objects, preparation of studies (maintenance, highlighting of the collections), co-organization of periodic exhibitions, cultural events, conferences, lectures and scientific meetings with the possibility of participation and contribution of third parties, educational activities, scientific publications and forms for the general public and digital applications for the promotion of the Collections and their history, cooperation to raise public awareness of the protection of the cultural heritage of Cappadocia, seeking resources from the private sector through sponsorships and donations, as well as from European programs, collaborations with third parties, Greek and international, scientific, research and cultural bodies, as well as local bodies, to achieve the common objectives of promoting the cultural heritage of the Cappadocians.
The President of the Center for Cappadocian Studies “I Nazianzos”, Kaplanis A. Iosifidis, said: “The signing of the memorandum is very important, as a 45-year-old work is taking shape. We thank the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, because the Ministry is helping our project in practice, as evidenced by the signing of the memorandum of cooperation.”
MEP Kavalas Yiannis Paschalidis said: “I would like to thank Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni and the Ministry’s staff for their interest in the tradition of the Greek Cappadocians. The Minister proves in practice her cultural interest in the wider Kavala area and the memorandum of cooperation signed today goes in that direction.”
MEP Makarios Lazaridis from Kavala said: “I am very happy about today’s important development for our country, for our historical heritage and for the preservation of our historical memory. A historic day for Cappadocian Hellenism, a beautiful day for the village of Nea Karvali.”
EP MP Kavala Angeliki Delikari said: “I am personally aware of the important work carried out by the Cappadocian Studies Centre in highlighting the history and culture of Cappadocia, which our ancestors were forced to abandon, but transferring as many relics as they could save to the homeland. Today’s memorandum of cooperation is a necessary step in the documentation and preservation of this material. Nea Karvali and Kavala as a whole can be the ark that will preserve these precious documents. Many thanks to Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni for this initiative. Warm congratulations are also due to all those who worked towards this end, such as the President of the Centre, Kaplanis A. Iosifidis.”
The memorandum, which will last for five years and may be extended for another year, was signed at the Ministry of Culture in the presence of EP MPs Kavalas, G. Paschalidis, M. Lazaridis, Ag. Delikaris, whom the Minister thanked for their full interest. Also present were the Director of the Newest Cultural Heritage, Stavroula Fotopoulou, the Head of the Management Department of the National Archives of Monuments and Archaeological Land Register, Maria-Xeni Garezou, and staff.