St. Paul – Reading Without Words: Hidden Stories of Ethiopic Manuscripts

For centuries, handwritten books have been part of everyday life in Ethiopia and Eritrea—used in homes, churches, mosques, and communities across the region. Created and cherished by both Orthodox Christian and Muslim communities, these manuscripts open a window onto more than 700 years of religious practice, daily routines, and artistic expression. But what if you can’t read Geʿez (Classical Ethiopic) or Arabic? Can these books still tell their stories? Absolutely.

In this illustrated, hands-on workshop, Dr. Jeremy R. Brown brings the world of Ethiopic manuscripts to life, showing how much we can learn simply by looking closely. Images, materials, layout, and decorations tell stories about how these books were used, who made them, and why they mattered. Participants will also have the rare opportunity to encounter Ethiopic manuscripts up close from the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library’s (HMML) remarkable collection. Following the discussion and workshop, participants are invited to enjoy refreshments.

About the Speaker
Dr. Jeremy R. Brown is the cataloger of Ethiopian Manuscripts at the HMML. He holds a BA in Biblical Studies from George Fox University in Oregon, a MA in Theological Studies from Portland Seminary in Oregon, and a Ph.D. in Semitic Languages and Literatures from the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. Prior to joining HMML, Brown was the Senior Researcher, Cataloger, & Translator for the Princeton Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Egyptian Miracles of Mary digital humanities project where he identified and translated miracles stories in manuscripts from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, and Syria.

This event is presented in partnership with the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library (HMML). Located on the campus of St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, HMML preserves and shares the world’s handwritten past to inspire a deeper understanding of our present and future.

Above Image: Decorative Bible in Ge’ez on parchment. 15th–17th century(?). Collection of Addis Ababa University, Institute of Ethiopian Studies (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), HMML project number IES 00721. Image courtesy of the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library.

Registration

This event is free. Registration through HMML is required.

Registration Questions: hmml@hmml.org

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