#Abbey Library of Saint Gall

[eli-zab3th]

Abbey Library of Saint Gall, St. Gall, Switzerland

Pictures by @eli-zab3th

[athis3]

Lectionary, in Christianity, a book containing portions of the Bible appointed to be read on particular days of the year. The word is also used for the list of such Scripture lessons. The early Christians adopted the Jewish custom of reading extracts from the Old Testament on the Sabbath. They soon added extracts from the writings of the Apostles and Evangelists, which later would be formalized in the canon of Scripture as the Gospels and epistles. During the 3rd and 4th centuries several systems of lessons were devised for churches of various localities. One of the first attempts for a diocese to fix definite readings for special seasons during the year was made by Musaeus of Marseille in the mid-5th century.

At first, the lessons were marked off in the margins of manuscripts of the Scriptures. Later, special lectionary manuscripts were prepared, containing in proper sequence the appointed passages. The Greek Orthodox Church developed two forms of lectionaries, one (Synaxarion) arranged in accord with the ecclesiastical year and beginning with Pascha (Easter) and the other (Mēnologion) arranged according to the civil year (beginning September 1) and commemorating the festivals of various saints and churches. Other national churches produced similar volumes. Among the Western churches during the medieval period, the ancient usage at Rome prevailed, with its emphasis on Advent.

During the 16th-century Reformation the Lutherans and Anglicans made changes in the Roman Catholic lectionaries. Martin Luther was dissatisfied with the choice of many of the lessons from the epistles in the Roman system, and he included a greater proportion of doctrinal passages. In the Anglican church the first edition of The Book of Common Prayer (1549) assigned for each day a passage of the Old Testament and the New Testament to be read at both the morning and evening services. Nearly all the saints’ days were dropped, and the new system assigned chapters of the Bible to be read consecutively.

In 1963 the Second Vatican Council allowed the introduction of the vernacular in the variable parts of the Roman Catholic liturgy, including the scriptural readings of the mass (the liturgy of the Word). A complete revision of the missal, carried out by a postconciliar commission, resulted in a three-year lectionary known as the Ordo Lectionum Missae (1969). This lectionary is arranged in two cycles, one for Sundays and another for weekdays. The Sunday cycle is divided into three liturgical years, labeled A, B, and C. Each Sunday usually has a reading from the Old Testament, a semicontinuous reading from one of the epistles, and a Gospel reading. Year A mostly features the Gospel According to Matthew; Year B reads through the Gospel According to Mark; and Year C showcases the Gospel According to Luke. The Gospel According to John is read during the Easter season in all three years. After three years the cycle starts over again.

The weekday cycle is divided into two years: Year I (odd-numbered years, such as 2023, 2025, etc.) and Year II (even-numbered years, such as 2024, 2026, etc.); the year of the cycle changes on the first Sunday of Advent. The first reading on weekdays may be taken from the either the Old or the New Testament, and usually a single scriptural book is read semicontinuously until it is finished and then a new book is started. The Gospel readings for both years are the same and are also read semicontinuously, beginning with Mark, then Matthew and Luke. As with the Sunday cycle, the Gospel According to John is read during the Easter season. In addition to the Sunday and weekday cycles, the Roman Catholic lectionary also provides readings for the feasts of major saints, for common celebrations such as Marian feasts, for ritual masses such as weddings and funerals, and for various other needs.

Present-day liturgists in many denominations have been active in revising traditional lectionary systems. Many Protestant churches in the United States and other English-speaking areas use the Revised Common Lectionary (1992). A previous version, the Common Lectionary, was assembled in 1983. Both versions are three-year lectionaries that function similarly to the Roman Catholic system.

pentecost (the descent of the holy spirit upon mary and the apostles in jerusalem)

illustration from a gospel lectionary, constance (?), c. 1470-80

source: St. Gallen, Stiftsbibl., Cod. Sang. 368, p. 44

[wgm-beautiful-world]

Abbey Library of Saint Gall - SWITZERLAND

[paganimagevault]

The Magyar invasion of Saint Gall from the Codex Sangallensis 602, manuscript dated 15th C. CE

"According to tradition, Saint Gall, a learned, probably Irish monk and faithful disciple to Saint Columbanus, founded a hermitage on the site that would come to encompass the abbey St. Gall around 610.

The abbey of St. Gall flourished during the Carolingian Era (750-887), emerging as a regional center of learning and trade. Housing one of the first monastery schools north of the Alps, the abbey had grown into a massive monastic center, replete with large guest houses, a working hospital, farms and stables, and a renowned library. The abbey quickly became a magnet for Anglo-Saxon and Irish scholars and monks who copied and illuminated manuscripts. Wealthy nobles, in turn, enriched the abbey through patronization and donations of land. By the turn of the ninth century, the abbey was among the most prestigious and wealthiest in Europe.

Three chroniclers substantiate, in different versions written between 970 and 1074, of a Magyar attack on St. Gall and its environs. The Alemannian Annals, written in the ninth and tenth centuries, mention the Magyars nine times, while the St. Gallen Annals of the tenth century do so fifteen times. The most interesting information about the Magyar sack comes from the chronicle of the monk Ekkerhart IV who lived more than a century after the invasion. According to him, as the Magyars swept through Swabia and entered the vicinity of Lake Constance, Abbot Engilbert took protective measures to ensure the survival of the monastery. He ordered the abbey’s old monks and young students to move to Wasserburg, which lies along Lake Constance and near Lindau, to await the siege. The younger, stronger monks were to seek refuge in the woods and hills near the village of Bernhardzell, to the northwest of St. Gall.

On May 1, 926, the Magyars stormed St. Gall. The attackers advanced to the church of St. Mangen and set it on fire. They also tried to set fire to Wiborada’s hermitage, as they could not locate its entrance. Meanwhile, other Magyar warriors ransacked the monastery, taking what booty they could find.

Despite observing their lust for loot, the chronicles praise the Magyars in their ability to assume battle formation in a matter of only a few seconds, in their use of a sophisticated network of couriers to communicate with troops from afar, and in their mastery of various weapons. Noted further were the Magyars’ love of wine, music, dance, and fresh, tasty, meats.

After a few days of rest, the Magyars moved on to target other Swabian cities, leaving the imbecilic Heribald behind. When the monks and friars returned to St. Gall to assess the damage, they questioned Heribald about what he had seen. He reportedly said, “They were wonderful! I have never seen such cheerful people in our monastery. They distributed plenty of food and drink.”"

-James Blake Wiener, When the Magyars invaded St. Gall. From the Swiss National Museum blog.

[stadt-st-gallen]

I’m not kidding this blog is so funny and I want to go to stadt st gallen. And I absolutely HATE traveling so this is a big thing I’m definitely gonna try to visit

Very good idea. There will be no Consequences to this.

No disappointment. No boredom. No being Galled and Appalled. Just marvel at the Abbey Library of Saint Gall. Bliss at the Drei Weieren. And a third thing for sure!

[nogreatergood]

@stainedglasstruth replied to your post “Where do you want the road to take you?”:

Travelling around and stopping to explore libraries sounds like a dream.

​Don't it, though? Can't read in every language, but seein' it all in person would be somethin'. Saw pictures of Abbey Library of Saint Gall in Switzerland, would give just about anythin' t' see it in person.

[arts-dance]

25 Most Beautiful Libraries in the World

For travelers who love books and reading, there’s no place more enchanting than a big, beautiful library. Being surrounded by thousands of books is a dream for many, but there are some libraries that take things to the next level with their jaw-dropping interiors. These are the kinds of places that act like shrines to the written word, whether they are steeped in centuries of history or are the cutting edge of modern design.  To help you add to your bucketlist, we’ve compiled this list of the most beautiful libraries in the world, many of which could vie for the title of the world’s best library.

The Library of the Benedictine Monastery in Admont, Austria Admont Abbey Library in Admont, Austria There’s little doubt that one of the best libraries in the world is the glamorous Admont Abbey Library of Austria. Full of exquisite frescoes set within Baroque architecture, you only need to take one look at this library to see what makes it special. Pristinely decorated in white and gold, this Austrian library dates back to 1776, although the monastery itself is considerably older.  Besides its grandeur, Admont Abbey also holds the title of largest monastery library in the world, containing around 70,000 volumes. One detail that’s tough to miss is the series of frescoes by Bartolomeo Altomonte that cover each of the library’s seven cupolas.

Bookshelf inside Peabody Library a research library for John Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA George Peabody Library in Baltimore, Maryland, USA At a glance, one could easily mistake the George Peabody Library of Baltimore, Maryland, for a luxury hotel or venue. That should give you an idea of what kind of glamor we’re talking about with this library at Johns Hopkins University. Gazing up from its elegant marble floor past five tiers of balconies to its expansive skylights, it’s hard to believe this is a research-focused academic library and not something far more extravagant.  Interestingly, this library was funded in 1878 by philanthropist George Peabody as a resource open to the public. Today it houses nearly 300,000 volumes, earning it the nickname of “the Cathedral of Books” in Baltimore.

Library of the Mafra National Palace in Portugal Mafra Palace Library in Mafra, Portugal It seems incredible that the Mafra Palace Library is said to be the highlight of a visit to this Portuguese palace. After all, we’re talking about quite an immense and stately royal palace with centuries of history behind it. But when it houses a Rococo masterpiece like the Mafra Palace Library, with marble floors, an intricate ceiling, and books on ornate shelves lining its 88-meter-long hall, that’s absolutely the case.  The library in Mafra dates from 1755, but the collection spans from the 14th to 19th centuries and even includes some volumes that were added only by special permission from the Pope, due to their “forbidden” nature.

The Long Room in the Old Library at Trinity College Dublin. Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland A beautiful library that really needs no introduction is the ever-popular Trinity College Library at the university in Dublin. One of the most famous libraries in the world, Trinity College Library is a classic Dublin tourist attraction, with crowds from all over the world visiting to see the stacked shelves of its iconic Long Room. The most impressive building of the library is the Old Library, where the Long Room is found, which dates back to 1592.  Beyond its gorgeous wooden architecture and arched ceiling, what makes the library so important is its vast collection, including the historic Book of Kells and a copy of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic, not to mention the incredibly symbolic Brian Boru harp.

Abbey Library Saint Gall in Austria Abbey Library of Saint Gall in St. Gallen, Switzerland Although St. Gallen may not be one of the better-known towns in Switzerland, it hides a pretty major attraction overlooked by many. This underestimated feature is the UNESCO heritage-listed Abbey Library of Saint Gall, a worthy contender for the title of world’s most beautiful library.  The Abbey Library of Saint Gall originated in 719 AD, and among its considerable archives lie thousands of books and manuscripts from the Middle Ages. But it’s really the striking carved woodwork and sublime Rococo ceiling that will make you fall in love with this library. Royal Portuguese Reading Room in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil T photography / shutterstock.com

Royal Portuguese Reading Room in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Few associate South America with enchanting libraries, and that’s part of what makes the Royal Portuguese Reading Room of Rio such a delightful surprise. Built in 1837 to store the largest collection of Portuguese literature outside of Portugal, it seems to have also adopted the Portuguese love of captivating libraries as well. Step into the main reading room of the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading and you’re sure to be overwhelmed by the dark woodwork and golden detail of its three stories of bookcases, not to mention the chandelier and stained-glass ceiling overhead.

National Library of the Girolamini Oratory in Naples, Italy The National Library of the Girolamini Oratory made headlines in 2013, although not for its rich interior or its status as one of the oldest libraries in Italy. Reports stated that the then-director and accomplices had looted the library, but fortunately most of the missing volumes were recovered following the arrests of the culprits. However, the news did rekindle a well-deserved interest in the 16th-century library. Rooms and halls inside the Biblioteca Girolamini vary in look, from modest rooms completely lined with historic wooden shelves to sublime chambers bearing magnificent fresco ceilings. Aerial view of main floor of the public Central Library in Seattle, USA Andriy Blokhin / shutterstock.com

Seattle Central Library in Seattle, Washington, USA While there are plenty of historic libraries that are beautiful, it’s possible to find beauty in modern ones as well, as the Seattle Central Library proves. Easily one of the coolest libraries in the world, the Seattle Central Library opened in 2004 in the city’s downtown area with a hyper-modern design. Still eye-catching today, the building is made of steel and glass, with an abstract design that’s just as interesting from the inside as the outside. The diamond-shaped lattice that wraps around its box-like design lets in lots of light, creating an open, fresh, and inviting feel uncommon with most libraries. Interior of new public library in Stuttgart, Germany Sasa Komlen / shutterstock.com

Stuttgart City Library in Stuttgart, Germany It’s difficult to imagine a more bright and contemporary public library than the Stuttgart City Library in Germany. In fact, since reopening in its new location in 2011, it’d be fair to say that this Stuttgart institution is a true contender for the distinction of best public library in the world.  The cube-like exterior of the library has drawn some strong public responses, but few could argue with the gleaming, minimalist main foyer of the library and its large central skylight. Some might even see in the library’s geometric heart a reminiscence of the incredible, dizzyingly patterned stepwells found in India.

[ezekieltobiasfletcher]

This is making me a little weak in the knees. ❤️‍🔥

The knowledge that I'll never live long enough to read all the books I wish to saddens me, and yet it doesn't stop me from trying.

... endless amount of knowledge ...

The Abbey Library of Saint Gall, St. Gallen, Switzerland

[anastpaul]

Saint of the Day – 16 November – St Othmar of Saint Gall (c 689-c 759) known as “Poor Father”

Saint of the Day – 16 November – St Othmar of Saint Gall (c 689-c 759) known as “Poor Father”

Saint of the Day – 16 November – St Othmar of Saint Gall (c 689-c 759) Priest, the Founder and first Abbot of the Abbey of St Gall in Switzerland, founder of a hospital and a school as well as the famous Library of St Gall (see below), which is the oldest working Library in the world, Apostle of the poor and sick, defender of his people and Abbey against secular usurpers. Born as Alemanne Othmar…

[paramedicabroad]

Abbey of Saint Gall

Join me on a virtual pilgrimage to the heart of Switzerland, where the Abbey of Saint Gall stands as a testament to medieval splendor and cultural richness. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this abbey invites us to unravel its architectural marvels, intellectual legacy, and the echoes of centuries past.

Step into the hallowed halls of Saint Gall Abbey, a masterpiece of medieval architecture. Marvel at the intricate carvings, soaring arches, and the timeless beauty that graces this spiritual sanctuary.

Meet the revered guardians of Saint Gall Abbey, St. Gallus and St. Otmar. Their legacies are interwoven with the foundation of the abbey, symbolizing the spiritual dedication that has echoed through the centuries.

Delve into the abbey's rich intellectual legacy, particularly its famed Carolingian manuscripts. Saint Gall's library became a beacon of knowledge during the Middle Ages, with meticulously crafted manuscripts that preserved classical texts and illuminated the minds of scholars.

Embark on a literary journey within the Abbey Library, which houses a trove of rare manuscripts and incunabula. The library's Baroque hall, adorned with frescoes and stucco decorations, serves as a bibliophilic haven for scholars and visitors alike.

In 1983, Saint Gall Abbey earned its place on the prestigious list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This recognition honors the abbey's outstanding universal value, celebrating its role in the Carolingian Renaissance and the preservation of medieval knowledge.

Stroll through the cloister gardens, where tranquility and natural beauty converge. The abbey's verdant surroundings provide a serene retreat, inviting contemplation and quiet moments of reflection.

For centuries, pilgrims have undertaken journeys to Saint Gall Abbey, seeking spiritual solace and connection. The abbey's sacred atmosphere and cultural significance make it a timeless destination for those on a pilgrimage of the soul.

In conclusion, the Abbey of Saint Gall beckons us to traverse the corridors of history, intellect, and spirituality. When you're ready for a digital exploration of medieval magnificence, Saint Gall Abbey promises to captivate and inspire. 🏰📜🇨🇭

[buzzdixonwriter]

In The Tunnels [FICTOID]

Each time a two-ton bomb went off, the lights in the tunnel danced on their wire, making their shadows cavort grotesquely.

Khaled brushed the grainy concrete dust off the letter he was writing.  This one would go to the Abbey Library of Saint Gall in Switzerland.  Its contents, other than the address and salutation, was identical to the five other letters he had written.

So far none of the libraries he wrote to replied, but that didn’t surprise Khaled. 

Just getting the letters out of the city would be an achievement, for a reply to reach him would be a miracle.

Still, nonetheless, he wrote. 

He wrote in a formal, very literary, almost poetic style.  At heart, he remained a plain soul, but even plain souls may be touched by the Muse.

Especially if they desperately needed a question answered.

Khaled’s question?  How much am I to blame?

After the previous day’s bombing, he was the youngest fighter in the tunnel, though perhaps “fighter” didn’t adequately describe his role.

He might have accepted “warrior”, since he did contribute to the hellscape all around them, but not “fighter.”

He didn’t fight, he never fought, not even to throw stones at the enemy’s tanks in futile protest.

All he did was smuggle messages through various checkpoints around the city. 

Knowing any electronic communication could be intercepted and decoded by the enemy, his leaders used human couriers.  Preparing for such a mission took two days, first gulping down a strong laxative to purge his bowels of any contents, then patiently submitting as his unit’s medics gently inserted the message capsule inside him.

Khaled would then pass himself off as a young laborer hired to help clean away rubble from the previous war, and midway through his shift would slip off to rendezvous with his contact.

The contact would remove the capsule and send Khaled back.  What the contact did with the capsule after he removed it, Khaled could guess, didn’t want to guess.

Enemy guards stumbled across them once.  Khaled and his contact both reacted in alarm but the enemy simply assumed they felt embarrassment at being caught with Khaled’s pants down around his ankles.  The guards laughed and made crude jokes about the sexual proclivities of the conquered population and looked no further. 

Khaled and his contact let’s their breath out at their good fortune, then the contact removed the capsule and hurried away.

While Khaled never knew the exact contact of the messages he carried, he knew them to be of vital importance to the eternal struggle against the enemy.

A few days earlier he noticed a sharp uptake in the activity in the tunnel, more men, supplies, and munitions coming in.  Khaled felt excited:  Something was in the air, something was coming.

At the time he hoped some of the messages he and his other young comrades carried contributed to this, but that was then and this is now. 

In the relentless, implacable counterattack, the enemy launched its full genocidal fury against the city.  All his fellow young couriers now lay dead, buried under tons of concrete or blasted to bits by direct hits.

It didn’t matter which. 

Dead is dead.

Before the counterattack, Khaled listened to the older fighters vow they’d rather die than live under the enemy’s rule.

But that was then, this is now.

Now many of those fighters lay dead, burned / blasted / buried under dirt and rubble.

Their fellow citizens -- young and old, male and female – never knew the fighters’ plans, but now they bore the brunt of the merciless counterattack.

Khaled joined the fighters as a courier after his uncle died in a pointless confrontation with the enemy.  Seeing his mother weep over her brother’s death, he vowed to make all those responsible for his uncle’s death pay.

Today his mother, father, older sister, younger sisters, and baby brother lay unburied in the crater that sat where their house once stood.

They would be alive if we didn’t attack the enemy, Khaled thought.

“They died martyrs,” the older fighters said.

They didn’t have a choice, Khaled thought.

That began his quest to write all the great libraries of the world, even those aligned with the enemy, such as the American Library of Congress, or with a different religion, such as the Vatican Library.

He needed to know:  How much am I to blame?

He resigned himself to never hearing from them.  He had no idea if the earlier letters he slipped to refugees fleeing the city ever got through.

But he needed to know, he needed to know.

Finishing his letter, he folded it, stuck it in an envelope, and affixed one of his dwindling supply of postage stamps to it.

The enemy cut off all electronic communication into and out of the city, so all he could do was writer letter and hope they got out, hoped they got through, hoped he’d receive an answer.

He didn’t trust leaders anymore, not religious, political, or military.

But he did trust libraries, repositories of truth and knowledge.

The lights danced again as more heavy bombs hit the city.  As the shaking grew in intensity, Khaled realized the enemy must be targeting the neighbor directly above them.

I may not have much time, he thought, and pulled out another sheet of paper to write another letter.

  © Buzz Dixon

[catherinebronte]

alysian-fields:

Abbey Library St. Gall in Saint Gallen, Switzerland

[mostly-history]

The Abbey Library of Saint Gall was founded by Saint Othmar (who also founded the Abbey).

A fire destroyed the abbey in 937, but the library remained intact.  The library hall was designed in the Rococo style from 1758 - 67, by the architect Peter Thumb.  It is the oldest library in Switzerland, and one of the earliest & most important monastic libraries in the world.

[thebeautifulbook]

THE LINDAU GOSPELS

THE LINDAU GOSPELS is an illuminated manuscript in the Morgan Library in New York, which is important for its illuminated text, but still more so for its treasure binding, or metalwork covers, which are of different periods. The oldest element of the book is what is now the back cover, which was probably produced in the later 8th century in modern Austria, but in the context of missionary settlements from Britain or Ireland, as the style is that of the Insular art of the British Isles. The upper cover is late Carolingian work of about 880, and the text of the gospel book itself was written and decorated at the Abbey of Saint Gall around the same time, or slightly later. — Wikipedia

#treasure binding #silver binding #jewelled #gold binding

[krispymusickitten]

Abbey Library of Saint Gall - St. Gallen Switzerland.

[a-book-place]

Abbey Library of St. Gall in St. Gallen, Switzerland

Early architectural plans that depict a library attached to the main church of the Abbey of Saint Gall suggest the collection dates back to around 820 CE. As the abbey’s catalogue of science writings and manuscripts grew, the collection moved to its lavishly decorated Baroque-style hall by Peter Thumb in the mid-18th century. Nearly 160,00 volumes make up the intricately carved-wood shelves, all of which are available for public use.