Rescuer of Eastern Manuscripts

IRAQ, SYRIA ─ During the period of ISIS control over parts of Iraq and Syria, the region’s cultural and human heritage faced the largest assault in its history. The terrorists targeted archaeological sites and historical libraries, looting and destroying ancient manuscripts and archaeological treasures. 

These crimes prompted director of the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library and Benedictine monk Father Columba Stewart (67) to take action to save the heritage of these civilizations. He led one of the largest digital preservation projects in the world to protect endangered manuscripts from Beth Nahrin and the broader Middle East—texts that document the religious and cultural heritage forming the identity of the region. 

Stewart worked with Christian and Muslim groups in highly tense areas of Iraq and Syria, training them to digitize centuries-old books. This effort was supported by his Hill Museum & Manuscript Library, which has much experience in preserving endangered manuscripts on microfilm and in digital formats. The Library managed to digitize over 140,000 complete manuscripts—more than 50 million handwritten pages. However, due to the spread of terrorism, 2,000 out of 6,000 physical manuscripts digitized in Iraq between 2009 and 2014 were lost or destroyed. Other digitized manuscripts in Syria met a similar fate. 

Stewart also visited Jerusalem, where—with the help of Syriac Orthodox monks—he obtained Syriac manuscripts dating back to the 6th century AD. These texts reflect the recent stories of Syriac Christians who were forced to leave their homes in Syria and Iraq. Their manuscripts are among the few remaining pieces of their cultural identity. 

Stewart’s goal has been to create the most comprehensive and diverse collection of digital manuscripts, hoping these resources will contribute to a deeper understanding between Christians and Muslims, and foster stronger connections that transcend surface-level societal divisions. 

As part of its efforts to preserve Christian manuscripts, the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library also holds digital images and microfilms of around 75,000 manuscripts from across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Thanks to its partnerships with more than 70 communities since the 1970s, the library now possesses a unique resource for studying Eastern Christianity in its historical cradle and early expansion areas. This includes important collections of Armenian, Christian Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopian, Malayalam, Church Slavonic, and Syriac manuscripts.