Roberto Scura, who restores books and manuscripts for a variety of ecclesiastical clients, repairs a book cover in his workshop in Rome May 3, 2021. Several Rome-based artisans who work in the Catholic sphere indicated that even if the pandemic were to disappear in a miraculous instant, the traditional trades still face an uphill struggle to stay profitable. Photo: CNS/Paul Haring. After safeguarding them for more than half a century, the Chaldean Antonian Order of St Hormizd has returned a collection of historic manuscripts belonging to the former Chaldean Diocese of Akra in northern Iraq to its ecclesiastical authorities. The formal handover ceremony took place at the Monastery of the Servant of God and Martyr Gabriel…
