Codex Beratinus

The earliest history of the manuscript is unknown. It was formerly believed to have been at Patmos. According to Xhevat Lloshi it came from Ballsh. It was held in Berat, Albania from 1356. The text of the codex was published by Pierre Batiffol in 1887. Apparently during World War II, Adolf Hitler learned about the manuscript and sought it out. Accordingly, Several monks and priests risked their lives to hide the manuscript. Oscar von Gebhardt designated it by the siglum Φ, which is often used in critical editions. Since 1971, it has been preserved at the National Archives of Albania in Tirana.

Codex Purpureus Beratinus was inscribed on the UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register in 2005 in recognition of its historical significance. The two Beratinus codices preserved in Albania are very important for the global community and the development of ancient biblical, liturgical and hagiographical literature and are part of the "seven purple codices", which were written over a period of 13 centuries, i.e. from the sixth to the eighteenth centuries. The other five "purple codices" are in Italy (two), France (one), England (one), and Greece (one).

The manuscript is written in an uncial hand on purple vellum with silver ink. It is preserved at the Albanian National Archives (shelf number Nr. 1) in Tirana, Albania. It was formerly possessed by the St. George Church in the town of Berat, Albania, hence the 'Beratinus' appellation.

The manuscript is a codex (precursor to the modern book format), containing the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Mark, with several considerable gaps: Matthew 1:1-6:3, 7:26-8:7, 18:23-19:3, and Mark 14:62-end. It contains 190 extant parchment leaves measuring 31.4 × 26.8 cm, or approximately the same size as those of Codex Alexandrinus, and has two columns per page, but the letters are much larger. It is written with 17 lines per page, 8-12 letters per line, in very regular letters, in silver ink. The title and the first line in Mark are written in gold ink. The writing is continuous in full lines without stichometry. Quotations from the Old Testament are marked with an inverted comma (28 • "But seek to increase from that which is small, and to become less from which is greater. When you enter into a house and are summoned to dine, do not sit down at the prominent places, lest perchance a man more honorable than you come in afterwards, and he who invited you come and say to you, "Go down lower"; and you shall be ashamed. But if you sit down in the inferior place, and one inferior to you come in, then he that invited you will say to you, "Go up higher"; and this will be advantageous for you." In Matthew 21:9, the following interpolation occurs, sharing affinity only with the Curetonian Gospels (labelled as sy): • και εξελθον εις υπαντησιν αυτω πολλοι χαιροντες και δοξαζοντες τον θεον περι παντων ων ειδον • And many went out to meet him, rejoicing and glorifying God for all that they had seen. • Some notable readings Matthew • επληρωθη το ρηθεν δια του προφητου (fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet) - Φ 33 a b sy bo • επληρωθη το ρηθεν δια Ιερεμιου του προφητου (fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet) - Majority of Manuscripts. Matthew • ος δια φονον και στασιν ην βεβλημενοις εις φυλακην (who for murder and insurrection had been thrown in prison) - Φ • omit. - Majority of Manuscripts. Matthew • ἵνα πληρώθη τὸ ῤηθὲν διὰ τοῦ προφήτου, Διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτια μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμὸν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον (that may be fulfilled what was spoken through the Prophet: They divided my clothes for themselves, and threw lots for my garment) - Φ 0250 Δ Θ 124 348 517 788 1279 1424 1579 1582 • omit. - Majority of Manuscripts.