The library of byzantinist Manolis Chatzidakis

The library was acquired by the Foundation in 2020. It consists of approximately 1,500 items, primarily focused on Byzantine history and art.

Manolis Chatzidakis (1909–1998) was a Byzantinist. He studied at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Athens and pursued further specialization in Paris and Berlin. His professional career was closely linked to the Benaki Museum, where he served as director for three decades. At the same time, he also directed the Byzantine and Christian Museum and held senior positions within the Archaeological Service, eventually becoming General Inspector of Antiquities. His work included major missions such as research on Mount Athos and at the Monastery of Sinai, as well as the rescue of artworks in Zakynthos after the earthquake. He played a decisive role in the establishment of key institutions, including the Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice, the Research Centre for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Art of the Academy of Athens, and the Central Conservation Laboratory, while actively participating in both Greek and international scholarly organizations. He was honoured with significant awards and distinctions, widely recognized as a leading figure in his field. He passed away in 1998, leaving behind a substantial body of work that profoundly shaped the study of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine painting, particularly that of the Cretan School.