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Codex Purpureus Beratinus () designated by Φ or 043 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), ε 17 (von Soden), is an uncial illuminated manuscript Gospel book written in Greek language. Dated Palaeography to the 6th-century, the manuscript is written in an uncial hand on Purple parchment with silver ink. The codex is preserved at the Albanian National Archives (Nr. 1) in Tirana, Albania. It was formerly possessed by the Saint George Church in the town of Berat, Albania, hence the 'Beratinus' appellation.
The text is divided according to the κεφαλαια (chapters) and according to the Eusebian Canons (smaller than κεφαλαια). On the left margin are inserted the numerals of the κεφαλαια and above the pages are inserted the τιτλοι (titles) of the κεφαλαια. The numerals of the Ammonian sections are given on the left margin, and a references to the Eusebian Canons were added by a later hand in the 8th century. A note in the manuscript states that the loss of the other two Gospels is due to "the Franks of Champagne", i.e. some of the Crusades, who may have seen it while at Patmos, where it was believed formerly to have been.
"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."Bruce M. Metzger, Bart D. Ehrman, The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption and Restoration, Oxford University Press, 2005, p. 71.
In , the following interpolation occurs, sharing affinity only with syrcur:Eberhard Nestle, Erwin Nestle, Barbara Aland and Kurt Aland (eds), Novum Testamentum Graece, 26th edition, (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1991), p. 58. NA26
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.
In Matthew 27:9, in the phrase επληρωθη το ρηθεν δια Ιερεμιου του προφητου ( fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet) the word Ιερεμιου (Jeremiah) is omitted, as in Minuscule 33, a, Codex Veronensis, syrs, Peshitta, and copbo.ΝΑ26, p. 81
In Matthew 27:16 it has additional reading ος δια φονον και στασιν ην βεβλημενοις εις φυλακην ( who for murder and insurrection had been thrown in prison).
In Matthew 27:35, it includes ἵνα πληρώθη τὸ ῤηθὲν διὰ τοῦ προφήτου, Διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτια μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμὸν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον along with 0250, 037, 038, 1424, 1582, 124, 348, 788, 1279, 1579, and 517.
According to B. H. Streeter, Codex Beratinus is a tertiary witness of the Caesarean text.B. H. Streeter, The Four Gospels. A Study of Origins the Manuscripts Tradition, Sources, Authorship, & Dates, MacMillan and Co Limited, Oxford 1924. It is grouped with N, Sinope Gospels, Rossano Gospels, and Uncial 080 to constitute the Purple parchment. Kurt Aland categorized the first four into Category V, and it is certain that they are more Byzantine than anything else. Codex Beratinus Φ (043): at the Encyclopedia of Textual Criticism Aland did not categorize Uncial 080.
Oscar von Gebhardt designated it by siglum Φ, which is often used in critical editions.
History
Formerly it was believed to have been at Patmos.Pierre Batiffol, Les manuscrits grecs de Berat d'Albanie et le Codex Purpureus Φ, Paris 1886, p. 8 According to Xhevat Lloshi it came from Ballsh.Xhevat Lloshi, Rreth ALFABETIT Të Shqipes (2008), p. 94 It was held in Berat, Albania from 1356. The text of the codex was published by Pierre Batiffol in 1887. "During World War II, Hitler learned of it and sought it out. Several monks and priests risked their lives to hide the manuscript." Albania Expedition at the CSNTM Since 1971, it has been preserved at the National Archives of Albania in Tirana.
Importance as Cultural Heritage
The 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 "Purple parchment", 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).
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