History...the Ephrata Cloister
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Scriptures at the Cloisters
This rare hand-written copy of the scriptures was in the meetinghouse. German calligraphic writing called Frakturschriften was viewed by the members of the Ephrata community as a discipline for both body and soul.
Cloister headcovering Cloister kitchen area
The brothers and sisters ate, worked, and even worshipped separately to keep temptations of the flesh at a minimum. To prepare their minds and bodies for Paradise, they ate meager meals, slept only briefly, and meditated.

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