70 manuscripts from the collection of the Coptic Monastery of Saint Macarius (Dayr Qiddīs Anbā Maqqār) in Wadi Natrun, Egypt, have been uploaded and cataloged in vHMML Reading Room. This monastery, founded in the 4th century by Saint Macarius of Egypt, is among the oldest and most renowned Coptic monasteries in Egypt. The manuscripts cataloged in this collection include Bibles, stories of saints, and apocryphal narratives. Almost all are in Arabic; a few are in Coptic with parallel translation in Arabic, and several include Coptic fragments reused in the bindings. The manuscripts range in date from the 13th century to the early 20th century. Digitization of the collection is ongoing. View now

Metadata for 2965 music manuscripts from the  Cathedral Archives in Mdina have been added to vHMML Reading Room. These collection were microfilmed by HMML's Malta Study Center during the 1970s and 1980s. The music archives include music manuscripts dating back to the 17th century, with original scores from Francesco Azopardi and Benigno Zerafa. The collection also includes the important family collections of the Nani and Vella composers, in addition to the manuscripts of Carmelo Pace. HMML's Malta Study Center sponsored four printed catalogs of these collections, which are now linked to these records through archive.org. View now

Metadata for 524 volumes of the Archivium Inquisitionis Melitensis have been added to vHMML Reading Room, including 35 volumes of the Memorie lasciate dagli Inquisitori di Malta and 296 volumes of the Processi e denunzie. Registers, repertories, and the Miscellanea fonds also have been added. The Roman Inquisition in Malta was established in Malta in 1561 and abolished in 1798. View now

We have added 3 volumes of the Tribunal Segnaturae Justitae fonds at the the National Archives of Malta to vHMML Reading Room. The TSJ fonds contain Acta Originalia of legal proceedings during the period of the French Occupation of Malta, 1798-1800. View now

We have added 14 volumes of the Officium Syndicatus Congregationis Munium et Belli fonds at the the National Archives of Malta to vHMML Reading Room. The OMB fonds were instituted by the Venerable Congregation of War of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalemto raise funds for the defense of the island and for the upkeep of the walls, and to deal with permissions and controversies related to these matters. View now

498 records from the Archives of the Archconfraternity of the Holy Rosary in Valletta, Malta, have been added to vHMML Reading Room. The Archconfraternity of the Holy Rosary was founded under the auspices of the Dominican Order circa 1575, and was associated with the Church of Saint Mary of Porto Salvo and the Dominican Priory in Valletta, where its chapel is located. Members of the Archconfraternity dedicated themselves to the ministry of those condemned to capital punishment in Malta among other charitable activities. The digitization project was done in partnership with the Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti and the de Piro family. View now

Metadata for 58 volumes of Series 7, Papal Bulls, ca. 1400-1796, of the Archives of the Order of Malta have been added to vHMML Reading Room. In 58 registers and volumes. Documents issued by the Pope and addressed to the Grand Master and the members of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta, and preserved by the Chancery of the Order. Registers include copies of papal bulls (bullaria) and original papal briefs granted to the Grand Master and to individual knights concerning confirmation of statutes and ordinances, privileges, graces, and dispensations for members of the Order. View now

In 104 volumes of the Archivium Inquisitionis Melitensis, Corrispondenza, 1577-1798, have been added to vHMML Reading Room. Volumes 1 to 93 contain correspondence sent from Rome to Malta. Volumes 94 to 104 contain correspondence sent from Malta to Rome. Most of this series has been scanned and is available in vHMML Reading Room. The Roman Inquisition in Malta was established in Malta in 1561 and abolished in 1798. View now

Metadata for 1097 volumes of Series 15, Proofs of the Langue of Italy ca.1540-1798, of the Archives of the Order of Malta have been added to vHMML Reading Room. Records of the admission procedure for membership to the Langue of Italy and its seven priories in the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta. Records include genealogical trees, family and church records, notarial records, correspondence, and legal documents from the Order of Saint John for Knights, servants of arms, and chaplains. View now

Metadata for 768 volumes of the Archivuum Archiepiscopalis Melitensis in Floriana, Malta, have been added to vHMML Reading Room. Records include the Acta civilia, Pastoral visits, Status animarum, Benefici, Pubblicazioni matrimoniali, inventories of church property, suppliche, epsiscopal correspondence, edicts, registers of ordinations, and other miscellaneous documents. View now

Metadata from 37 volumes of Series 4, General Chapters of the Order of Saint John, 1330-1776, of the Archives of the Order of Malta have been added to vHMML Reading Room. Records of the activities and meetings of the General Chapter of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta. Records include originals and copies of proceedings, deliberations, and statutes concerning business and legislation of the Order. Volumes also include summaries of the statutes, rolls, memoranda, and petitions. View now

Metadata from 25 volumes of Series 3, Libri conciliorum status, 1522-1798, of the Archives of the Order of Malta have been added to vHMML Reading Room. Documents recording the activities and meetings of the Council of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta. Registers include originals (libri conciliorum status) and minutes (libri minutarium conciliorum status) of proceedings, deliberations, and decrees concerning political, military and diplomatic matters and internal administration of the Order and the Maltese archipelago. Records also include one index, original documents, letters, reports, and briefs related to the meetings. Related documents in AOM Section 2. View now

Metadata for 33 volumes of the Lettere consolari fonds at the Cathedral Archives in Mdina have been added to vHMML reading room. Records contain diplomatic correspondence of the chargé d'affaires du Roi for Malta. Records include correspondence from individuals, the king, and other embassies and consulates located in the Mediterranean and Europe regarding France, the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, shipping, trade, slavery, the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, and the French occupation of Malta. View now

Metadata for 335 volumes of the Venerable Assembly of the Conventual Chaplains of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem (Archivum Venerendae Assembleae) of the Cathedral Archives of Mdina, Malta, have been added to vHMML Reading Room. Documents, mainly account records, include the Procura Distribuzioni, Procura Anziana, Procura Fiernalda, and over one hundred volumes of the Missae Ominum Fundationum. View now

Metadata from 60 volumes of Series 14, Deliberations, 4. Deliberations of the Langue of Italy, ca. 1300-1800, of the Archives of the Order of Malta housed in the National Library of Malta have been added to vHMML Reading Room. Records pertaining to the activities and administration of the Langue of Italy of the Order of St. John, of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta and its decision-making bodies. Records include deliberations, correspondence, accounts, rolls, lists, indexes, acts, and reports.

HMML recently completed cataloging manuscripts from the Monastery of Mor Gabriel in Tur ‘Abdin, Turkey.  Digitization of the 250 manuscripts was completed in 2010. While the manuscripts from this collection have been available on vHMML, the collection is now fully searchable because of the work of HMML cataloger, Josh Mugler.

“This collection is significant not so much because of its age--the oldest seem to be from the 15thcentury-- but because they bear witness to the Syriac region’s rich cultural tradition of producing very fine manuscripts,” explains David Calabro,  HMML’s curator of eastern Christian and Islamic manuscripts. “An example of this can be seen in MGMT 52, an Evangelion (a book of liturgical readings from the Gospels) dated to 1867. The manuscript is gorgeously decorated and illustrated. Take a look at the very end of the manuscript. You may be surprised to see an image commemorating the then-recent construction of a telegraph line from Istanbul to Baghdad!”

To see more examples from the collection go to vHMML.org Reading Room and type MGMT in the HMML Project Number Field (Syriac is read right to left, so click on arrow to left to view the manuscript). For questions about the collections, contact Dr. David Calabro.

vHMML Museum is now availible. The new application in vHMML allows users to digitally access HMML's art collections, including the Arca Artium Collection donated by Frank Kacmarcik, the Richard Hadley Slide Collection, and the art collections of MUŻA - Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arti digitized by HMML's Malta Study Center. https://www.vhmml.org/museum

Metadata from 1640 volumes of the Curia Episcopalis Melitensis of the Cathedral Archives of Mdina, Malta, have been added to vHMML Reading Room. These records include all series within the CEM Collection, including Acta Originalia, Conti, Registra, Repertoria, and other series. The collection contains material that was combined into a single archive in the 1970s, originating from at least four different archives prior to the French occupation of Malta in 1798. View now

Metadata from 878 volumes of the Archivum Cathedralis Melitensis Official Records Section of the Cathedral Archives of Mdina, Malta, have been added to vHMML Reading Room. The Archivum Cathedralis Melitensis Official Records comprise the official records of the Cathedral Chapter meetings and the various administrations of the Chapter. The officials of the Chapter included the chancellor (who was often a notary whose acts acquired legal value), two procurators (one chosen by the bishop and one by the Chapter), a depositario, a deputy for the archives, a deputy for music, and other minor officials. The minutes of the Chapter meeting of 1419 are the oldest records of this division. This group is made up of 24 sections. View now

Metadata from 186 volumes of Series 2, Libri conciliorum, 1459-1798, of the Archives of the Order of Malta housed in the National Library of Malta have been added to vHMML Reading Room. Documents recording the activities and meetings of the Council of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta. Registers include originals (libri conciliorum), minutes (libri minutarium) and copies of proceedings, deliberations, decrees, and judgments concerning admissions, collations of priories, bailiwicks, and commanderies, dignities and titles, diplomatic correspondence, instructions for ambassadors and members of the Order, passports, and military, administrative and judicial matters. View now