Calligrapher John Zosimos’ “unique” 10th-century manuscript returned to Georgia after purchase at Christie’s by ruling party Honorary Chair

A “unique” 10th-century manuscript by John Zosimos, a famed Georgian calligrapher, author, translator and bookbinder monk, has returned to Georgia after being purchased by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and the Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, at the Christie's auction in London.

Nikoloz Chkhetiani, the Chair of the Supervisory Board at the Cartu Charity Foundation created by the party official, on Wednesday said the purchase of the manuscript marked “another charitable act” by Ivanishvili and the Foundation.

As you know, the Cartu Foundation has been supporting and helping Georgian culture for decades. We focus in different directions, promoting Georgian culture remains a priority of the Foundation. In the summer of this year, at Christie's auction, the manuscript was purchased by the Foundation for £1.25 million”, Chkhetiani said.

The GD press office noted Codex Sinaiticus Rescriptus, a 5th-7th centuries CE manuscript compiled in Aramaic and Georgian languages, would be donated to the Georgian National Museum network.

The palimpsest is overwritten with Georgian text written by Zosimos, and preserved in its 10th-century binding from St Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, the earliest known signed, dated, and localisable binding. The manuscript will be the only masterpiece of Ioane Zosimos to be kept in Georgia.

The Christie’s auction said the manuscript contained the earliest textual witnesses of the Gospels in an Aramaic dialect nearest to that spoken by Jesus, and was composed “within a living tradition based in the Holy Land”.

• Ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili donates John Zosimos’ unique manuscript to Georgian National Museum

Zosimos is known for his liturgical compilations and for composing several hymns dedicated to the Georgian language. His best known hymn was Praise and Exaltation of the Georgian Language, a mystic poem making heavy use of numerological symbolism and biblical allusions.

The manuscript will be displayed alongside other exhibits in the Christian Treasures Hall at the Museum.