Herrnhutian manuscripts

Long after Gutenberg had invented the printing press in the mid-15th century, literature continued to develop in the painstaking hand-crafted form of the manuscript. The prolific literature of the Unity of Brethren (Herrnhutians or Moravians) became a phenomenon of the 18th century.

Explore this exhibition to find out how its writing community developed, how it encouraged the peasant class to become literate and how it encouraged the recording of incredible life stories.

What was the Unity of Brethren?

This international religious movement aimed to take Christianity to different regions of the world. It was widespread, but not always popular, often moving underground because of persecution. So manuscripts became a way to share information quickly within the community. For modern-day researchers, these manuscripts provide unique insights into the hidden history of the movement.

Bringing the written word to all

In Latvia, the Herrnhutian movement symbolises a spiritual awakening, as it marked the starting point for a subsequent growth in literacy across society. The Herrnhutians were the first to introduce Latvians to the world of literature, not only as readers and listeners, but as writers too.

The collection of Herrnhutian manuscripts held by the National Library of Latvia and available on the Europeana website sheds light on the history of this movement, expanding our knowledge of the importance of writing and written text in the formation of modern identities.

The range of surviving manuscripts includes rare and unique texts demonstrating the impact of the written word on the peasantry - those in rural working communities. The manuscripts show how these communities experienced religion revealed by literacy, and give us access to its everyday experiences.