CAIRO: In Wadi Al Natroun lies the Coptic monastery Deir El Surian, whose library houses an estimated 2,000 of the earliest Christian manuscripts and fragments dating back as far as the fifth century.
Texts in Syriac, Coptic, Arabic and Ethiopic have accumulated over hundreds of years since the monastery was established in the sixth century. Deir El Surian has always been known as an attraction for monks from around the globe, which has led to the variation of languages of the texts. The monastery derived its name from the Syrian monks that lived there for centuries – its original name is Deir El Sayeda Al Azraa Mariam (The Virgin Mary Monastery).
The collection featured in the monastery s library includes the earliest Biblical texts and works of church fathers, including St. John Chrysostom and Freory of Nyssa, the Greek originals of which have been lost.
Whether the works of residing monks, purchased or received as presents, the monks have long worked to preserve the library collection. But, in spite of the country s dry climate that has helped in preserving the collection intact, time has taken its toll on the manuscripts. As they continue to deteriorate, the valuable collection is now at risk of being lost.
But what the dedicated monks have lacked over the past 1,500 years is now available: technology. With the advancement of science, the manuscripts can be preserved and even made available for wider scholarly access through digitalization.
The cataloguing, preservation, storage and digitalization of the collection will, however, need considerable funding.
The Levantine Foundation, which was set up to preserve works on paper of historical importance, is now dedicated to [securing] the future of the Deir Al Surian Library.
Foundation members came to Egypt this week to talk about the work they have already done and their future plans. Last Tuesday, the British embassy hosted members of the foundation s board of trustees, a number of Deir Al Surian monks and Professor Sebastian Brock to talk about the importance of preserving the manuscript collection and the efforts done in the process.
Our objective is to preserve and record this priceless collection for Egypt and the world, said John Beale, member of the board of trustees of the Levantine Foundation.
There are two monasteries in particular in Egypt, which have preserved this very ancient text, says Professor Brock, who was lecturing attendees on the historical importance of the collection. He referred to the Saint Catherine Monastery in Sinai and Deir El Surian.
Both have preserved, he continued, uniquely fine collections of early Syriac manuscripts – a dialect of Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ. Many libraries in the Middle East contain Syriac manuscripts, but with very few exceptions. It s only the Egyptian monasteries (Deir El Surian s and St. Catherine s) which preserved manuscripts as old as the fifth, sixth [and] seventh centuries, he adds.
After the ninth century, he explains, Syriac manuscripts were no longer copied, just excerpted and anthologized. This means that the full texts of early writers are only to be found in pre-ninth century manuscripts, more specifically the text preserved in the two Egyptian monasteries.
It isn t just the text of the manuscripts, Brock adds, but the notes left by readers, because these shed light on the history of the monastery. They also indicate the place of origin of the monks who read the books with the addition of interesting historical information, explains Brock.
Beale comments that the project needs skill, technology and money. The event marked the start of a fundraising campaign aimed at financing the project. An estimated LE 6 million is needed for the foundation s five-year program. This includes the costly process of training local conservators, storage and display facilities and digitalizing equipment, according to the plan the foundation distributed during the event.
Beale announced that the Sawiris Foundation s generous contribution provided a wonderful start to the campaign.
Zahi Hawwas, the head of the Higher Authority of Antiquities, was also present during the event. He pointed to ongoing efforts to restore Coptic history in Egypt, including the Coptic Museum and the Hanging Church. Coptic history is an inseparable part of Egyptian history, noted Bishop Matteos of Deir El Surian.
For more information visit the foundation’s Web site at www.thelevantinefoundation.org
