An international conference was conducted by the British Library to celebrate the digitizing of one of the oldest known Bibles still extant. Since 1933, the British Library has held most of the known pages of the Codex Sinaiticus. A few pages remained in the National Library of Russia and others were held by the University of Leipzig in Germany.
The Codex Sinaiticus, which is now nearing its 18th Century of existence, has held star status with the British Library since its acquisition from Russia during the depths of the great depression. With the movement to digitize books as a means of preserving them for future generations and with an eye toward expanding access to the Codex, the British Library set up a collaborative effort with the other holders of material from the Codex Sinaiticus and proceeded with the major undertaking of its conservation and digitizing.
To celebrate the completion of the project and to present the digitized version to the world at large, the Library organized a conference to communicate the results of its work. This was conducted at the British Library in London, July 6 and 7, 2009.
Textual scholars from across Europe and North America gathered to discuss the place of Codex Sinaiticus within the biblical tradition. The key-note address was given by Professor Eldon Jay Epp, Visiting Professor of New Testament at Harvard Divinity School and formerly president of the Society of Biblical Literature (2003). Professor Epp chose as his title “Codex Sinaiticus in Modern Biblical Scholarship.” He then proceeded to outline the role of four New Testament majuscules and their impact on New Testament studies. The first addressed was Codex Bezae, held at Cambridge. To Professor Epp, Codex Bezae, known from the mid sixteenth century was an “Unwelcomed Stranger” to those involved in textual studies. Codex Alexandrinus, held by the British Library, he characterized by the term “Familiarity Breeds Success.” This was the best known of the codices and was given priority from the 17th century. Vaticanus was a “Sleeping Giant,” probably the earliest of the four codices but hidden from view and access in the Vatican Library. Although known since the 15th century, access was only granted after Codex Sinaiticus had been discovered in the 19th century. Sinaiticus was “A Late Bloomer,” yet became an instant celebrity. Having traced the impact of these four codices on the textual development of the New Testament translations, Professor Epp considered the impact of even older papyri that had been discovered in the 20th Century. Both Vaticanus and Sinaiticus appear to have their beginnings in several of these papyri.
The seminar was informed about the discovery of additional pages of Sinaiticus during building repairs at St. Catherine’s in 1975. Details of the conservation and digitization of the Codex were also covered.
The seminar marked the opening of an exhibition about the Sinaiticus: From Parchment to Pixel. Podcasts relating to this exhibition are also available online. A discussion and display of the creation of the Sinaiticus Materials of the Codex Sinaiticus: How was the oldest surviving Bible made? scheduled for August has been sold out. | 
