Faculty of Theology Fulda
Research Institutes
The Bibliotheca Fuldensis Institute (“Institut Bibliotheca Fuldensis”)
The Bibliotheca Fuldensis Institute at Fulda Faculty of Theology has its origins in the initiative of the philosopher and mediaevalist Prof. Dr Gangolf Schrimpf (1935–2001). The Institute’s focus is research into the mediaeval monastic library of Fulda, which was of great age and significance. In the Thirty Years War, the contents of this library were carried off, dispersed and largely destroyed.
From the early 1980s onwards, an extensive documentation of the surviving manuscripts and manuscript fragments was established, and a substantial library specialising in the topic was assembled. From the very early years of the project, Gangolf Schrimpf worked on significant research desiderata, together with the Bibliotheca Fuldensis research group (“Arbeitskreis Bibliotheca Fuldensis”) and other academics. An example of the results achieved was the first edition, in 1992, of the late 15th-century book list of the monastery of Fulda that survives in Basel.
Support from the friends’ society of Fulda Faculty of Theology (“Förderkreis der Theologischen Fakultät Fulda”) made it possible to create a collection in Fulda consisting of high-quality reproductions of the surviving manuscripts and fragments of the once extensive monastic library. This physical reconstruction has served as a tool for further research, for example in palaeography and philology, and the Institute encourages and invites researchers throughout the world to make use of this collection. The Bibliotheca Fuldensis research group meets regularly; if you are interested in participating, please contact the head or the coordinator of the Institute.
The Institute of the Church in the World (“Institut Kirche in der Welt”)
The Institute of the Church in the World was established by Fulda Faculty of Theology and combines the latter’s main focuses: research on and the advancement of interrelationship of the Church and the world. Trans- and interdisciplinary exchange allows findings and insights from numerous different academic disciplines (economics, the natural sciences, human sciences, social sciences, cultural and religious studies) to be incorporated into theological reflection in order to provide answers that are appropriate to questions of the times and that are developed on the basis of the Christian faith. Conversely, this cooperation allows the institute to transfer theological insights into today’s complex society.
The institute fulfils an important mission of ecclesiastical universities; it highlights the salvational presence of God in the world and thus serves the Church’s missionary purpose in the academic sphere by enabling interaction between the Church and the world. The institute’s work is international, inter-denominational and inter-religious, and it fulfils its mission through foundation and higher degree courses (Bachelor, PhD), through awarding certificates in different areas of further training, through events (for example, extramural courses/community education, conferences) and through special projects (for example, exhibitions).
The Anselm Institute (“Anselm-Institut”)
The Anselm Institute is dedicated to research on theology and philosophy in the time of Anselm of Canterbury and to the patristic sources used, in particular the writings of Augustine. It organises academic events, releases publications and aims to make research stays possible.