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Non-Profit Organization FALL NEWSLETTER U.S. Postage Saint John’s University 2010 PO Box 7300 PAID Collegeville, MN 56321-7300 Saint John’s University 320-363-3514 (voice)

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HMML Board of Overseers Jay Abdo Louis F. Hill Joseph S. Micallef Edina, Minnesota Arden Hills, Minnesota Founder Emeritus St. Paul, Minnesota James Hurd Anderson Tom Joyce, Chair Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Diana E. Murphy Minneapolis, Minnesota Nina Archabal Thomas A. Keller III St. Paul, Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Kathryn Reyerson Minneapolis, Minnesota Joanne Bailey Steven Kennedy Newport, Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Dan Riley Minneapolis, Minnesota Ronald Bosrock Lyndel I. King St. Paul, Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Lois Rogers Long Lake, Minnesota Conley Brooks, Jr. Abbot John Klassen, OSB Minneapolis, Minnesota Collegeville, Minnesota Robert L. Shafer New York, New York Nicky B. Carpenter David Klingeman, OSB Lifetime Member Collegeville, Minnesota Columba Stewart, OSB Wayzata, Minnesota Collegeville, Minnesota Robert Koopmann, OSB Albert J. Colianni Jr. Collegeville, Minnesota Gregory Swenson, DDS Minneapolis, Minnesota North Oaks, Minnesota Dale Launderville, OSB Patrick Dewane Collegeville, Minnesota Brian Wenger Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Jonathan Licari, OSB Paul Diekmann, MD Collegeville, Minnesota Stephen M. Wolfe Fridley, Minnesota Chicago, Illinois Jean Manas Judith K. Healey New York, New York Minneapolis, Minnesota readers order 7:Layout 1 10/29/10 2:54 PM Page 4

Illuminations CONTENTS 3 Director’s Letter 4 Out of the Ashes 6 Where We’re Working 9 HMML News 10 HMML Images on World Digital Library Father Columba on the summit of Jebel Katerina, the highest 11 Millennium Club Members mountain in Egypt’s Sinai Travel to and Peninsula, July 2010

ON THE COVER: Codex Complutensis 1, an important early Latin Bible, remained intact for a thousand years before being nearly destroyed in the Spanish Civil War. To create the cover picture, an image of folio DearFriends, 277v as it appears today was superimposed on an image of the same I returned in mid-August from my 11 months of After leaving Dumbarton Oaks, I led our HMML folio from microfilm recently found in the Hill Museum & Manuscript sabbatical, reinvigorated for the tremendous work we Millennium Club on a two-week tour of southeast Library’s vault. Scholars are hailing the rediscovery of the intact, have before us at HMML. Everywhere I went, people Turkey and Syria, visiting many of the sites you have complete copies, which may be the only ones in existence. who knew us were full of praise for our ongoing been reading about in Illuminations. I stayed on in commitment to manuscript preservation, and people Syria and for another couple of weeks to see Canon tables, folio 277 verso, Codex Complutensis 1. Color photograph who had never heard of HMML were astonished to our preservation partners and negotiate new projects, courtesy of Complutense University, Madrid. learn about this unexpected treasury of ancient wisdom. and then headed to Jerusalem for six weeks at the École Biblique, a fine research institution sponsored by I had eight wonderful months as a Fellow at French Dominican friars. While there I was able to sign Dumbarton Oaks Research Library in Washington, a contract for HMML’s first-ever project in the Holy DC, working on my book about the origins of City, at the ancient Syriac Orthodox Monastery of Saint monasticism while gaining a clearer understanding of Mark. I also slipped away for several days at Saint what HMML could be in the future. Dumbarton Oaks Katherine’s Monastery in Sinai. I had been to Sinai Hill Museum & Manuscript Library is an extraordinary place, with a superb library, beautiful several times before, but only for brief visits with groups In the Benedictine tradition of reverence for human gardens, a lovely museum, and financial resources to of students and HMML friends. This time I was able to sustain scholarly work of the highest caliber. Imagine consult sixth-century Syriac manuscripts while finding thought and creativity, the Hill Museum & Manuscript HMML with a resident community of visiting scholars, time for several amazing hikes and climbs around the Library (HMML) preserves manuscripts, printed books a dedicated permanent staff, and regular conferences, monastery. The hospitality from my friend and fellow- and art at Saint John’s University and undertakes Illuminations is a publication of the seminars, and workshops bringing people to Saint John’s Texan Father Justin, the monastery’s librarian, was photographic projects in regions throughout the world. Hill Museum & Manuscript Library and to engage more deeply with the resources we have outstanding. The manuscripts of Sinai have been safe is published for scholars and friends of created over the last 45 years. We already have the for centuries; in so many other places that has sadly not HMML is the home of the world’s largest collection of HMML twice a year. fundamental components of such a compelling and been the case. HMML still has much to do, and with manuscript images and of The Saint John’s Bible, a lively scholarly center with our manuscript images, rare your help we shall do it. handwritten, illuminated Bible in modern English. Fr. Columba Stewart, OSB, books, reference collection, and art holdings; our skilled executive director and contributing writer curators and catalogers; the lovely setting of the Saint Yours, John’s campus with its new Abbey Guesthouse. The Hill Museum & Manuscript Library Wayne Torborg & Erin Lonergan, editors missing piece is funding for research fellowships and Saint John’s University Wayne Torborg, imaging conferences, and endowment to secure the best possible PO Box 7300 Lori Gnahn, graphic designer permanent academic staff. You will be hearing more Father Columba Stewart, OSB Collegeville, MN 56321-7300 Spectrum Printing, printer about our plans to develop HMML as a place for Executive Director HMML 320.363.3514 (phone) groundbreaking research. 320.363.3222 (fax) © 2010 Hill Museum & Manuscript Library www.hmml.org

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Their library had looked for years for photographic copies of the undamaged Codex 31 without success. Out of the Ashes Now, pictures of the damaged pages in Madrid were sent to HMML to be compared with the black-and- Rediscovered medieval Bibles highlight the importance of manuscript preservation white microfilm images. They matched! A text from medieval Spain, lost in a brutal twentieth-century war, by Wayne Torborg was recovered in a library basement in the middle of North America. alfway around the world from the Hill The films yielded several Museum & Manuscript Library (HMML), surprises. They were part “I was flabbergasted,” said Vann. “First, these a researcher was looking at the manuscript of the purchased film manuscripts had to have been photographed not only H catalog database on the HMML website. before HMML existed, but before it was standard collection and it was A particular record of a microfilmed manuscript unclear why HMML preservation practice to microfilm manuscripts. Second, caught his attention. It read: had them. Also, the I couldn’t believe that HMML had the only surviving Spain. Madrid. Universidad reels contained two complete microfilm copies of two such important Complutense Bibles, Codex 31 and manuscripts.” Biblioteca. Cod. 31 Codex 32, which has But how did it get to HMML? Vann investigated The brief description stated simply: been missing since further, and found that HMML acquired the 9th/10th century the Spanish Civil microfilms in 1979, when then director Julian Plante Bible. Vulgate. War. Last, and most decided to purchase microfilms of all the significant Latin important, the images liturgical manuscripts cited by Klaus Gamber in Codices on the films were of liturgici latini antiquiores, an important bibliographic To Dr. Hugh Houghton, complete pages, not work for scholars studying liturgical texts. Plante however, this brief burnt fragments. ordered the microfilm copy of Codex 31 from the HMML student worker Mary Baumgard description spoke volumes. A flurry of email messages Centro Nacional de Microfilm in Madrid. They may digitizes the microfilms of Codex 31 and 32. Houghton is a researcher at have sent their only copy to HMML, as they no longer The improvised photography setup allows the the Institute for Textual flashed between Vann at have copies of their own. frames of film to be photographed with a Scholarship and Electronic HMML, Houghton in high-resolution digital camera. Editing (ITSEE) at the England, and Dr. Marta In addition to their age and cultural value, Codex 31 University of Birmingham in Torres, the director of the and 32 are significant for a number of reasons. They are England. To scholars of the Biblioteca Histórica at considered important examples of Mozarabic art, a style Latin Bible, Madrid Codex Complutense University of that combined Visigothic and Islamic elements, 31, also known as Codex Madrid, home of the charred produced by Christian communities living under Complutensis I, is an remains of Codex 31. Upon Muslim rule in medieval Spain. The decoration of important Latin Bible that hearing about the microfilm the manuscripts shows such Arab influences as was largely destroyed in the at HMML, she wrote in an zoomorphic initials and distinctive arches. Spanish Civil War. Only email: “Can it be possible? Codex 31 contains one of the oldest Latin versions of burnt fragments and a few Do you know that this the complete Bible, which predates the standard photographic slides information IS FANTASTIC Latin Vulgate Bible. In the early 16th century, remained of the priceless FOR US?” Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros added it and manuscript. Codex 32 to his extensive collection of early manuscript Bibles. The two Bibles were instrumental Houghton contacted in the preparation of the Latin text of the HMML and asked about Complutensian Polyglot Bible, a groundbreaking getting a copy of the scholarly edition of the Bible exemplifying the microfilm. Did the film contain images of the severely Renaissance spirit. damaged manuscript, as most assumed it would? Dr. Photographic preservation of manuscripts proves its Theresa Vann, curator of the Malta Study Center and worth. Left, one of the charred folios that remain of Continued on page 8 director of electronic cataloging at HMML, found the Madrid Codex 31. Right, microfilm copies found in This vintage photo from the Spanish Civil War shows microfilm reels in HMML’s vault and inspected them. HMML’s vault with images of intact pages. how books from the library of Complutense University were used to barricade windows. Photograph courtesy of Complutense University, Madrid.

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In the thirteenth century, the entered into Habib. The headquarters of the community is Deir el- communion with Rome, and the Pope recognized Kreim (“Monastery of the Vineyard”), located north Where We’re Working Jeremiah II as Maronite Patriarch of Antioch. In the of Beirut. From the name of this monastery the sixteenth century especially, pressures toward members of the order are also known as “Kreimistes.” Latinization (bringing ecclesiastical belief and practice They run a high school in Jounieh, also north of Deir el-Kreim, Jounieh, Lebanon in line with the Church of Rome) affected the Beirut. The manuscript collection belonging to the Maronite Church. Since Vatican II, however, a return order consists of approximately 1000 manuscripts in to more authentic practice has been encouraged and Syriac, , and (Arabic written in Syriac realized. An important event both for Maronites and letters). If it is not well known that Christians in the for European scholarship was the founding in 1584 of Middle East have used and continue to use Arabic for the Maronite College in Rome for the education of religious purposes, it is even less well known that they Maronite clergy. A number of shining Maronite have very often done so using Syriac letters to write scholars soon followed, such as Abraham Ecchelensis out the Arabic. Garshuni is frequently found in (1600-1664) and Gabriel Sionita (1577-1648), both colophons of Syriac texts (see the image of the of whom taught in Europe and liturgical text included here), but was also used for collaborated with other scholars on the Paris Polyglot many entire texts, liturgical and others. A few Bible, and Patriarch and scholar Istifan Al-Duwayhi manuscripts in Latin and French can also be found in (1630-1704). Not long after them the Assemani the LMMO collection, testifying to the close family became well known in Rome, most notably connection between the Maronites and Europe. Joseph Simon Assemani (1687-1768), recognized Several genres are represented: Bible, commentary, especially for his still- referenced encyclopedia of liturgy, theology, sermons, saints’ lives, philosophy, Syriac and Arabic Christianity entitled Bibliotheca grammar and lexicography (including an Arabic- Orientalis, published in Rome, 1719-1728. French dictionary completely in European script). One of the few distinctively Maronite religious orders, Thanks to the cooperation between the LMMO and the Lebanese Maronite Missionary Order was founded HMML, this important and rich collection is now in the mid-nineteenth century by Bishop Yuhanna safely preserved and more accessible to scholars.

?is manuscript contains an Arabic (Garshuni) version of Jacob of Edessa’s commentary, originally in Syriac, on the first chapters of Genesis. Jacob (ca. 630-708) was a monk, n the Spring of 2007, HMML began digitizing the experienced opposition and persecution from other bishop, scholar, and prolific author. ?e crown manuscript collection of the Lebanese Maronite Christian churches of the east. These differences and of his exegetical work is this work, the IMissionary Order (LMMO). The Maronite Church, struggles led them eventually to the protection of the Hexaemeron (from Greek, “six days”), the first which has its clearest origins at the Monastery of mountains of Lebanon. Lebanon has remained the Marun in early sixth-century Syria, adopted the center of Maronite Christianity to this day. There are of its kind in Syriac. Jacob left the work decisions of the Council of Chalcedon (451) as did the now over two million members of the Maronite incomplete at his death, and it was finished by Byzantine and Latin churches. After the inauguration Church, many living abroad in Europe and the George, bishop of the Arabs. From Syriac it was of Islamic rule in the , the Maronites enjoyed Americas. translated (and adapted) into Arabic, and favor from the Muslim authorities in , but other manuscripts of the work are in Paris, , and the Mingana collection in Above: ?is manuscript, a liturgical book for the Church Year from Lent to Pentecost, is open to the end of the Birmingham (the last two in , not office commemorating the Forty Martyrs and the beginning of the vespers liturgy for the first Sunday of the Garshuni). Jacob of Edessa is specifically named Leper (Mark 1:35-45). ?e main text is in Syriac, but the colophon to the part of the liturgy ending here, in the colophon, and the date 1669 is given. written in smaller script than the rest of the text, is in Garshuni. It provides a classic example of scribal self- ?is image (p. 26 in the manuscript) shows a deprecation: “the vilest of God’s creation, the lowest and vilest of leaders, Yūsuf by name... asks forgiveness diagram of the celestial spheres, with the name from God for his sins and offenses through the mediation of the forty holy and pure martyrs. May the blessing of each written in Garshuni. of their prayer preserve us and all those that belong to the Catholic Church. Amen!”

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HMML News These decorative serpentine arches from Madrid Codex 32 are Work Begins on Cataloging The Saint John’s Bible excellent examples of Mozarabic art produced Project Funded by Historical Books Trade by Christians living in Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Edition Now Available Spain after the Arab invasion of 711. Art Earlier this year, a $343,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon The Liturgical Press and The Saint John’s produced by these Foundation was awarded to the Hill Museum & Manuscript Bible are pleased to announce the publication communities displays a Library (HMML) to support the electronic cataloging of of Historical Books, the sixth in a series of synthesis of Islamic and thousands of Eastern Christian manuscripts that have been seven full-color, reproduction volumes from digitized in the Middle East and Ethiopia over the past seven . Historical Books Christian aesthetics. The Saint John’s Bible years. became available in September 2010 and features more than twenty-five stunning HMML has hired Adam McCollum, Ph.D. to catalog these illuminations, beautifully handwritten script, recently digitized manuscripts in Christian Arabic, Garshuni, and elegant design that dramatically depict Out of the Ashes continued HMML sent the films to its microfilm scanning vendor, and Syriac, and to coordinate the work of off-site catalogers how the grace of God’s justice and peace can but the tonality of the negative images made it working on Armenian and Ge‘ez manuscripts. A native of How these two manuscripts ended up on reels of 35mm rise from the most unlikely of places, impossible for the automatic scanner to recognize and Birmingham, Alabama, McCollum studied Semitic and microfilm is still a mystery, as this technology generally reminding us that our redemption is always separate the frame images. A custom rig was then set up Classical languages and received all three of his graduate came into use after the Spanish Civil War. The at HMML to photograph the frames individually with close at hand. microfilm stock appears to be from the 1950’s. The degrees from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of a digital camera. Digital copies were sent to Houghton Religion, Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to arriving at HMML, boxes are labeled as positive film, but the frames are The key theme of the Historical Books is the and Torres. McCollum taught Hebrew and edited out-of-print books on negative images of the Bible pages. Further investigation understanding that God’s dealings with Eastern Christianity to be reprinted by Gorgias Press, an and correspondence suggested that the Benedictine Houghton is planning to use the information in Codex people are not neat and tidy. Humankind, left academic publisher. McCollum has authored books and abbey of San Girolamo in Rome used the two Bibles as 31 to augment his current study of the Gospel of John. to its own devices, can spiral downward into academic journal articles pertaining to Syriac, Arabic, and source material for its famous edition of the Vulgate He would like to see a complete transcript of the selfishness, while proclaiming fidelity to the other Eastern Christian literature. Latin Bible, and had them photographed in 1914. Most manuscript produced at some time for the benefit of Lord. God’s patience and mercy are revealed likely this was done with a large-format camera textual scholars. Some of the texts of the Old Testament This award builds on a 1990s Mellon-supported HMML through the history of the people of Israel as a producing glass plate negatives; later on, the glass plates are particularly valuable, as they pre-date the Vulgate project that developed standards for electronic cataloging of parable for all times and places. themselves were rephotographed on 35mm film, translation of Saint Jerome. manuscripts and supported the creation of OLIVER, HMML’s creating the source for HMML’s microfilm copy. Thanks to the photographic preservation of these on-line catalog, now the largest of its kind in the world. A The Saint John’s Bible—commissioned by 2008-2009 Mellon grant laid the groundwork for this most It is said that while the glass plates have not been manuscripts, researchers will be studying the lost and Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville, recent award by refining those cataloging standards for use with preserved, a set of prints exists at the Archabbey of found texts of Codices 31 and 32 for some time. This Minnesota—is an entirely handwritten and non-western manuscripts and devising a system for distributed Beuron in Germany. The condition and completeness tangible benefit of modern manuscript preservation is as illuminated Bible. World-renowned cataloging. This new project will also expand the availability of of these prints, which apparently have not been gratifying to the HMML staff as it will be for countless calligrapher Donald Jackson, Senior HMML’s cataloging information through new search systems digitized, is unknown. Biblical scholars. Illuminator to the Queen of England’s Crown and the sharing of metadata with other projects. Office, serves as the project’s artistic director The results will be available and illuminator from his scriptorium in through OLIVER and Wales. Vivarium, HMML’s online Complutense University in image database (both accessible The completion of the final volume of The Madrid was subjected to intense without charge through Saint John’s Bible is anticipated in 2011, with artillery fire and bombardment www.hmml.org). Questions a tentative publication date of December in the Spanish Civil War of about accessing any of these 2011. Learn more about The Saint John’s Bible and view other products at 1936-1939. All the university’s materials may be directed to www.saintjohnsbible.org. buildings were heavily damaged [email protected] and an estimated 80,000 books Published in hardcover and priced at $79.95, were destroyed. Photograph Historical Books is available directly from courtesy of Complutense Liturgical Press. Order online at University, Madrid. Adam McCollum will be leading the cataloging of www.litpress.org or call 1-800-858-5450. Eastern Christian manuscripts at HMML.

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HMML Images to be Displayed on HMML Millennium Club Members World Digital Library Website Travel to Turkey and Syria

The 2010 HMML Millennium Club trip participants on the steps of Deyrulzaferan Monastery near Mardin, Turkey. Guide Sébastien de Courtois is in the front center.

ast June, eighteen members of HMML’s Citadel, Great Mosque and superb Bazaar, and met with Millennium Club traveled together to experience the leaders of the local churches whose manuscripts Selected manuscripts from HMML’s collections will be showcased for a Lthe ancient culture and heritage of eastern Turkey and HMML has digitized. The group walked along the worldwide audience through the partnership between HMML and the northern Syria. The group met in Istanbul, Turkey and colonnaded main street of Palmyra, the extraordinary World Digital Library. took an evening flight to Diyarbakir, the principal city ancient city of Queen Zenobia and a UNESCO World of Turkey’s Kurdish region. Over the next several days Heritage site. The two-week trip ended with a drive to they made stops at the Great Mosque of Diyarbakir, the Damascus via the Christian village of Maaloula and the Meryyem Ana Syriac Orthodox Church—where Monastery of Saidnaya. In Damascus they visited the he Hill Museum and Manuscript Library (HMML) The WDL promotes international understanding by HMML digitized 300 manuscripts—and the Monastery Great Mosque with its magnificent mosaics, the is pleased to announce its partnership with the expanding the volume and variety of cultural content of Mor Gabriel, one of the oldest monasteries in Christian Quarter, and the Bazaar. Throughout the trip, World Digital Library (WDL), a web-based resource on the Internet, providing resources for educators, continual existence. They also visited villages of the the food and company were outstanding! T ancient Syriac heartland in the Tur ‘Abdin, including that features unique cultural materials from libraries and scholars and general audiences. Institutions contributing Millennium Club or Legacy Society members are archives from around the world. A joint initiative of to the World Digital Library include national libraries the churches of Saint Jacob at Salah, Mor Loozor and eligible to participate in upcoming HMML trips. UNESCO and the Library of Congress, the World and cultural and educational institutions in Brazil, the Church of the Virgin at . Their final stops in Ḥaḥ Millennium Club members contribute $1,000 or more Digital Library includes manuscripts, maps, rare books, China, France, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Turkey were the city of Mardin and its 4th century annually in support of HMML. Legacy Society films, sound recordings, prints and photographs, and Morocco, the Netherlands, , the Russian Monastery of Deyrulzaferan, sites of recent HMML members have included HMML in their estate plan or provides free, unrestricted public access to these Federation, , Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, preservation work, and Urfa (ancient Edessa) the center other planned gift. For more information about the materials. HMML will provide images from its partner Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. of Syriac Christianity in the early centuries. Millennium Club or Legacy Society, please contact libraries and its own collection of manuscripts and rare HMML is honored to be a charter member of this In Aleppo, Syria the group toured the 15th century HMML Director of Development, Erin Lonergan at books. Over the next several months, manuscripts from initiative to foster cross-cultural knowledge and Armenian Cathedral of the Forty Martyrs, the ancient 320-363-2095 or [email protected] libraries in Lebanon and Syria will be HMML’s first understanding. contributions to the WDL, highlighting the enduring significance of ancient Christian communities in the The World Digital Library may be found at: region. http://www.wdl.org/en/ Join us May 4-19, 2011 HMML Millennium Club Trip Northeastern Turkey: Trabzon, Ani, and the remote valleys with ancient churches. Georgia: Batumi, Mestia, Gori, Tbilisi, Msketa, Kakheti, Dawit Dareja, the northern Military Highway.

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