Syrian woman restores ancient religious manuscripts to the benefit of researchers
Record ID:
1633495
Syrian woman restores ancient religious manuscripts to the benefit of researchers
- Title: Syrian woman restores ancient religious manuscripts to the benefit of researchers
- Date: 24th August 2021
- Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (AUGUST 10, 2021) (REUTERS) EXPERT RESTORING ANCIENT RELIGIOUS MANUSCRIPTS, RAJAA RAJHA, WORKING IN LAB RAJHA WORKING ON RESTORING ANCIENT MANUSCRIPT RAJHA LOOKING ON RAJHA WORKING ON RESTORING MANUSCRIPT BOOKS ON TABLE / RAJHA WORKING IN BACKGROUND MANUSCRIPT / RAJHA RESTORING MANUSCRIPT RAJHA HOLDING MANUSCRIPT COVER VARIOUS OF RAJHA RESTORING MANUSCRIPT COVER WHILE EXPLAINING PROCESS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EXPERT RESTORING ANCIENT RELIGIOUS MANUSCRIPTS, RAJAA RAJHA, SAYING: "First of all it (making papers used in restoring manuscripts) saves money as it (papers used in restoring manuscripts) is hard to get it in Syria and has to be brought from other countries. Second, I cannot use the paper that is available in the market because it contains impurities. The material that is added to the manuscript should be acid-free. So I make paper that is safe for the manuscript." RAJHA OPERATING MACHINE USED TO MAKE PAPERS RAJHA OPENING MACHINE TO CHECK IT MACHINE INTERIOR VARIOUS OF RAJHA PICKING UP PIECE OF FABRIC, FOLDING IT AND PUTTING IT INSIDE MACHINE RAJHA PAINTING FINISHED PIECE OF PAPER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EXPERT RESTORING ANCIENT RELIGIOUS MANUSCRIPTS, RAJAA RAJHA, SAYING: "I add special colours and I mix light paper with dark paper so I can make a sheet of paper that is suitable for the manuscript. The paper's colour has to be lighter than the manuscript."
- Embargoed: 7th September 2021 10:41
- Keywords: Church History Religious manuscripts Researcher Syria
- Location: DAMASCUS, SYRIA
- City: DAMASCUS, SYRIA
- Country: Syria
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Middle East
- Reuters ID: LVA001ERN3UJ9
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: 57-year-old Syrian restoration expert Rajaa Rajha spends hours huddled in a lab specializing in restoring manuscripts at a small library in the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Damascus. Originally a chemist, Rajha manufactures a special kind of paper to be able to restore the manuscripts. “I cannot use the paper that is available in the market because it contains impurities. The material that is added to the manuscript should be acid-free. So I make paper that is safe for the manuscript," she said. Considered a treasure trove for religious researchers wishing to study ancient Greek Orthodox history, the library is home to hundreds of ancient manuscripts. Most of the manuscripts were brought to the Patriarchate in 1860 when a civil war broke out in Damascus and led to the killing of hundreds of people and the damage of hundreds of books and manuscripts. Rajha, one of a few Syrian manuscript restorers, has been working in this domain since 2006, but the civil war that broke out in 2011 forced her to stop. Since resuming her work in 2018, Rajha says she has been facing many problems delaying the process, including constant power cuts. According to the secretary of manuscripts and documents in the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate Joseph Zaitoun, Rajha’s work is instrumental as it allows them to find new information that is not available in contemporary printed books.
(Production: Firas Makdisi, Kinda Makieh) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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