Greek monastery manuscripts tell new story of Ottoman rule

Deep inside a medieval fortified monastery in the Mount Athos monastic community, researchers are for the first time tapping a virtually unknown treasure: thousands of Ottoman-era manuscripts that include the oldest of their kind in the world. Photo: AP

A church bell sounds, the staccato thudding of mallet on plank summons monks to afternoon prayers, deep voices are raised in communal chant. And high in the great tower of Pantokrator Monastery, a metal library door swings open.

There, deep inside the medieval fortified monastery in the Mount Athos monastic Orthodox Christian community, researchers are for the first time tapping a virtually unknown treasure - thousands of Ottoman-era manuscripts that include the oldest of their kind in the world.