Saint John's Bible

Saint John's Bible

The Saint John's Bible is the first completely handwritten and illuminated Bible to have been commissioned since the invention of the printing press, although at least one privately done illuminated Bible - the Pepper Bible of James G. Pepper [http://members.aol.com/biblescribe1/biblescribe1/index.htm] preceded it.

:"At the dawn of the 21st century, Saint John's Abbey and University seek to ignite the spiritual imagination of believers throughout the world by commissioning a work of art that illuminates the Word of God for a new millennium."- Mission Statement of The Saint John's Bible Commission.

Beginning in 1970, master calligrapher Donald Jackson expressed in media interviews his lifetime dream of creating an illuminated Bible. Following a Saint John's-sponsored calligraphy presentation at the Newberry Library in Chicago in 1995, Jackson discussed a handwritten Bible with Fr. Eric Hollas, OSB, former executive director of the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. Between 1996 and 1997, Saint John's explored the feasibility of the Bible project, Jackson created first samples, and theologians developed the illumination schema. The Saint John’s Bible was officially commissioned in 1998 and funding opportunities were launched. The public was introduced to the project in 1999 and it is scheduled to be completed in 2009.

The Saint John’s Bible is seven volumes and two feet tall by three feet wide when open. The Bible is made of vellum, with 160 illuminations, and has cost $4 million to produce. The version of the Bible used is the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

The scriptorium of the Saint John's Bible is located in Monmouth, Wales.

Techniques used

Donald Jackson, official scribe of Queen Elizabeth II, created a new script specifically for this project.

The creators of The Saint John's Bible use a mixture of techniques used in the creation of older illuminated manuscripts (hand-written with quills on calf-skin vellum, gold and silver leaf and hand-ground pigments and inks) and modern technology (platinum leaf, and computers used to plan the layout of the bible, and line-breaks for the text).

Volumes

The Saint John's Bible consists of seven volumes:

# Gospels and Acts (completed in May 2002.)
# Pentateuch (completed in August 2003.)
# Psalms (completed in April 2004.)
# Prophets (completed in April 2005.)
# Wisdom Literature (completed in July 2006.)
# Historical Books (scheduled for completion in August 2008.)
# Letters and Revelation (scheduled for completion in December 2009.)

The Heritage Edition

The Heritage Edition of The Saint John's Bible is the full-size reproduction of the original. Measuring two feet tall by three feet wide when open, it is the exact size of the original manuscript. Making this reproduction unique as a manuscript facsimile is the fact that it will be signed by the chief scribe and illuminator, Donald Jackson. The edition is limited to 360 signed and numbered sets and contains the same seven volumes as the original. In addition, an eighth volume of commentary that places The Saint John's Bible in its historical context and describes several of the illuminations will accompany the volumes. It is in pre-publication through June 30, 2008, and available for subscription.

Controversy of The Saint John’s Bible

Early in the marketing campaign, the commission responsible for The Saint John’s Bible made the claim that it would be the first hand-written bible in 500 years to the best of their knowledge. The commission was then made aware that several other bibles had been completed within the time frame, and in Spring 2004 (between the April and May mailings of advertising for the Bible), the phrase “commissioned by a Benedictine Monastery” was added to the advertising and official website.

aint John's Bible staff

*Artistic Director: Donald Jackson
*Calligraphers: Hazel Dolby, Sue Hufton, Sally Mae Joseph, Brian Simpson, Angela Swan, Susie Leiper
*Director of Public Programming and Educational Outreach: Tim Ternes
*Executive Director: Carol Marrin
*Director of the Heritage Edition: Craig Bruner
*Graphic Designer: Vin Godier
*Illuminators: Thomas Ingmire, Aidan Hart, Suzanne Moore, Diane von Arx, Sally Mae Joseph
*Natural history illustrator: Chris Tomlin
*Project Coordinator: Rebecca Cherry
*Studio Assistant: Sarah Harris
*The Saint John's Bible Committee on Illumination and Text: Johanna Becker, Irene Nowell, Michael Patella, Ellen Joyce, Nathanael Hauser, Susan Wood, Alan Reed, Columba Stewart

External links

* [http://www.saintjohnsbible.org/ Official Saint John's Bible page]
* [http://www.sjbible.org/ Saint John's Bible prints and books]
* [http://www.saintjohnsbible.org/why/chronology_details.htm Chronology of the Saint John's Bible]
* [http://www.smithsonianmag.com/issues/2000/december/bible.php Inscribing the Word] (Smithsonian Magazine)
* cite web |publisher= Victoria and Albert Museum
url= http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/prints_books/saintjohnsbible/index.html
title= The Saint John's Bible
work=Prints & Books
accessdate= 2007-08-27

* [http://www.csbsju.edu/ College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University]
* [http://www.csbsju.edu/sot Saint John's School of Theology]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Saint John's Abbey — in Collegeville, Minnesota is a Benedictine monastery affiliated with the American Cassinese Congregation. The Abbey was established following the arrival in the area of monks from Saint Vincent Abbey of Latrobe, Pennsylvania in 1856. Saint John… …   Wikipedia

  • SAINT-JOHN PERSE — Poète et diplomate français, Saint John Perse, prix Nobel de littérature, fut une sorte de Claudel «laïc». Ce «précieux mandarin fait de laque» était un découvreur de l’univers. Passionnément curieux de la flore et de la faune, «lecteur» de… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Saint John the Baptist — Saint John the Bap|tist (about 12 BC 28 AD) a religious teacher in the New Testament of the Bible who ↑baptized Jesus in the river Jordan …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University — College of Saint Benedict Motto Sic Luceat Lux Vestra (so let your light shine) Established 1913 Type Private Religious affiliation …   Wikipedia

  • College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University — Infobox University name = College of Saint Benedict image size = caption = motto = Sic Luceat Lux Vestra (so let your light shine) established = 1913 type = Private affiliation = Roman Catholic endowment = president = MaryAnn Baenninger provost …   Wikipedia

  • Gospel of Saint John —     Gospel of St. John     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Gospel of St. John     This subject will be considered under the following heads:     I. Contents and Scheme of the Gospel;     II. Distinctive Peculiarities;     III. Authorship;     IV.… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Epistles of Saint John —     Epistles of Saint John     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Epistles of Saint John     Three canonical books of the New Testament written by the Apostle St. John.     The subject will be treated under the following heads: FIRST EPISTLE I.… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • The Revelation of Saint John — Revelation Rev e*la tion, n. [F. r[ e]v[ e]lation, L. revelatio. See {Reveal}.] 1. The act of revealing, disclosing, or discovering to others what was before unknown to them. [1913 Webster] 2. That which is revealed. [1913 Webster] 3. (Theol.)… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • John the Baptist — Saint John the Baptist John the Baptist by Bartolomeo Veneto 16th century Prophet, Preacher, Forerunner, Martyr Born c. 5 BC Died 3 …   Wikipedia

  • Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai — Saint Catherine Area * UNESCO World Heritage Site Country …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”