Karbala: The Intellectual and Cultural Affairs Department at the al-Abbas’s (p) Holy Shrine has successfully completed the restoration of a rare Bible copy from the sixteenth century.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Director of Al-Fadl Center for the Preservation and Preservation of Manuscript Heritage and Documentary Archives, Laith Lutfi, shared that the restoration team had finalized the restoration of this valuable Bible, which was printed in Old German in 1545 AD by a German printing press. Lutfi highlighted that this book is among the rarest items in the heritage collection of the al-Abbas’s (p) Holy Shrine’s treasury.

Lutfi elaborated on the composition of the team overseeing the restoration, which included a biologist, a chemist, two restorers, and a specialist in decoration and lacquer binding. The restoration process involved a series of meticulous steps, starting with photographic and written documentation. The team arranged the papers in digital sequence and conducted biological and chemical examinations. Specialized stages implemented by the team included mechanical cleaning, replacing missing parts, performing sewing operations, and making necessary corrections to preserve the precious manuscript.