Manuscripts and Churches

As a calligrapher I have always been enthralled by handwritten and illuminated books. When in Europe, I seek out the traditional tomes in the usual places of church, museum and gallery. When we visited Ethiopia, I was thrilled to view ancient books in churches, open for all to see and still in daily use. We might think these books should be protected, they are in use and seen by the priests and congregation as part of their daily worship.

As a woman and layperson, I was not able to handle the manuscripts, I was given permission to photograph many and able to view the fine calligraphy written using a reed pen. The pages are made from goat skin and have been cured in the same age-old way. The remarkable thing to note is that although the books are centuries old, they are still used for teaching and reading in church on almost a daily basis. With wide margins and exquisite hand drawn borders, the colours still glow on the pages.

Borders are interwoven and simply coloured in blacks and red with occasional blue or green filling. The illustrations are 'Orthodox' in style with traditional colours used for the people depicted. Blue for the Virgin Mary, red and blue for Jesus, ochres and red for angels.

At no time could I see lines for writing, either drawn or scored. But the pages are soft and worn with centuries of handling. Rather like a beautiful pair of favourite leather gloves. Cherished and enjoyed.



A holy book in a cave church in Lalibela


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Johannesburg