Location of the Mauritian Institute

       Long. 24^o44'57''   Lat. 59^o26'16''

AD 1500

About the history of the Mauritian Institute

The Mauritian Institute was called into existence in August 14, 1994. It is situated in the clausure of the former Dominican Monastery (Friary) in Tallinn Old Town. The foundation of the Institute was assisted by Mr. Rasmus Kangropool, Director of the Cultural Heritage Department of Tallinn, Mr. Erik Lätti, Director of the Tallinn City Museum and Mr. Justo Mullor Garcia, Archbishop of the Estonian Catholic Church. In the east wing of the Monastery, the oldest library in the territory of Estonia - named Librarium Mauritanum in the honor of Lecturer Mauritius - has been revived during the renovations. After the repairs, the former prior's room on the floor above the library was readapted as a reading-hall and seminar room. The collection of modern philosophical literature has grown rapidly by several projects, donations, and personal depositions by the fellows of the Institute. The library has achieved the level of an academic science library and become one of the best collections of philosophy in the whole Baltic region. Also, the Tallinn City Museum has deposited a valuable part of its medieval ashlar collection to the Mauritian Institute.

In 1998, the Mauritian Institute was visited by Mr. Frederico Mayor, Director General of UNESCO, who donated a lot of valuable literature from the part of UNESCO. The library has also been supplemented by personal depositions, projects and donations. The Seitenstetten Benedictine Abbey in Austria has donated 4500 books, a part of which was decided to be re-donated to the Faculty of Theology of the University of Tartu, and the Brigittine Convent of Pirita. In 1999, an agreement of cooperation and partnership was signed with the National Library of Estonia. In 2002, a contract of cooperation in magistral and doctoral education between the Tallinn Pedagogical University and the Mauritian Institute was signed. In 2003, the Institute expanded its activities. A lectorium was established in the old dormitory, and the vestry was accommodated for the needs of the chapel of the Institute. The vestry was renovated as the art gallery Gervekammer. The Center of Medieval Spirituality was founded by the Institute in 2004. Wim A. de Pater, Professor Emeritus of the University of Leuven, has donated an outstanding collection of 500 books on Scholastic thought to the Librarium Mauritanum.

Since 1994, philosophical seminars have taken place in Librarium Mauritanum. Mauritian Institute is one of the leading centers of philosophy in Estonia. The fellows of the Institute participate in giving philosophical education according to the agreements of cooperation in several facilities of higher education.