This hybrid, non-credit seminar introduces post-classical Greek book culture (4th–16th c. CE), literary scripts, textual transmission, and textual criticism. Hosted by the Gennadius Library with Dumbarton Oaks‘ support, it provides in-depth training in reading and dating Greek scripts and editing historical texts.

Taught by Dr. Stratis Papaioannou, the course is open to eight graduate students or recent Ph.D. holders and consists of eleven 2-hour and two 3-hour sessions. The first eight sessions run weekly online from November–December 2025, while the final five take place in Greece (January 26–30, 2026), including a visit to the Meteora Monasteries for hands-on manuscript study.

Participants must complete assigned manuscript readings, attend all sessions, deliver a 20-minute presentation on Greek textual transmission, and pass a final take-home exam on script identification, transcription, and text editing.

Graduate students and recent Ph.D. holders (within five years) in relevant fields such as Classics, History, Art History, and Religious Studies, from universities worldwide, are eligible to apply.

The program has no tuition fees, and all participants receive scholarships covering travel, accommodations in Greece, and the Meteora trip; lunches are included, but personal food expenses outside Athens are not covered.

The course does not grant academic credit or grades, but a certificate of successful completion is provided.

Applications must be submitted online by April 15, 2025, including a CV, statements of academic background and future plans, language proficiency, graduate transcripts, and two letters of recommendation.

Find more information and apply here.