Dr. Marie Škarpová from the Charles University in Prague is currently at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, taking advantage of a ReIReS TNA scholarship.

The Czech scholar is an expert in Early Modern hymnography and hymn books. She is working on an interdisciplinary edition project of Czech Rorate chants; these Advent Mass chants had a special form in Bohemia since the 15^th century and the first half of the 16^th century. Dr. Škarpová sees Rorate chants as an interesting example of the Early Modern Christian culture in Central Europe. For her research of European traditions in this field, the Hymnbook Archive at JGU Mainz with its more than 7000 hymnbooks and other relevant sources is the ideal place to analyse similar traditions.

In the Hymnbook Archive she works for two weeks with rare books, databases and other sources – which are only available in Mainz – under the guidance of experts Prof. Dr. Ansgar Franz and Dr. Christiane Schäfer.

The scholarships of the EU funded project “Research Infrastructure on Religious Studies” (ReIReS) are open for researchers from the European Union and countries that are associated to the EU Research and Innovation programme Horizon 2020. Marie Škarpová is the first scholar from the Czech Republic who is holding a ReIReS grant, among scholars from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Croatia, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Spain, and Tunisia.

The cooperation with scholars from other countries is an enrichment not only for the grantholders but likewise for the experts in the 14 inviting institutions which offer their treasures and expertise for interdisciplinary research in any field of religious studies. The research results contribute to knowledge and understanding in religious pluralism and thus stand for the goal of a peaceful Europe.

 

 

Images:

Image above (visual): First day of Marie Škarpová’s visit in the Hymnbook Archive at JGU Mainz, discovering the Rorate mass of Mainz in a 17^th century book,  with Dr. Christiane Schäfer (left) and Prof. Dr. Ansgar Franz (right)

Image: Marie Škarpová in the Hymnbook Archive, together with Prof. Dr. Ansgar Franz (left) and Dr. Christiane Schäfer (right)