Book of Psalms of The Saint John's Bible published

Published: 2006-01-09

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (CNS) -- The Liturgical Press of St. John's Abbey in Collegeville has announced the release of the Book of Psalms of The Saint John's Bible, a full-color reproduction of the first handwritten illuminated Bible to be created in 500 years. The 9.75-by-15-inch hardbound Psalms volume is about two-thirds the size of the hand-illuminated vellum pages that form the original manuscript. The 80-page Book of Psalms is the second published volume of what will eventually be a seven-volume work. The first volume, Gospels and Acts, was published in 2005. The entire 1,150-page illuminated Bible manuscript is slated for completion in 2007. The $4 million project began in 1998 when the Benedictine monks of St. John's Abbey commissioned one of the world's foremost calligraphers, Donald Jackson, to serve as artistic director and illuminator. Jackson is senior scribe to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's Crown Office.

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