The Saint John's Bible

The Don and Dorothy Hodapp family has donated a Heritage Edition of The Saint John's Bible to the library. “This unusual gift is our thanks to Austin for the many wonderful years our family enjoyed living there. It is our hope that this Bible will be appreciated and enjoyed by all,” said Mr. Hodapp.

On Sunday, October 30, 2011, the Library will be closed for the installation and private reception for the Bible. The first two volumes, Wisdom Books and Pentateuch, of the seven-volume set will be on display in a temporary viewing case during library hours beginning Monday, October 31.

Open viewing hours, where the volumes are available for viewing outside the case, will be posted. Additional times by prior arrangement only. In addition, showings of the 50-minute video entitled The Illuminator and a Bible for the 21st Century will be held, and these times will be posted as well. This video tells the story of The Saint John's Bible and its artistic director and scribe, Donald Jackson (©2005. A 3BM Television Production for BBC Wales and Saint John's University with support from Target Corporation.)

Each day, library staff will turn a page in the open volume. The books will be on permanent display, and will also be available for special study and use.

In 1998, the Saint John’s Benedictine monastery in Collegeville, Minnesota, commissioned Donald Jackson, scribe and calligrapher to the Crown Office of Great Britain, to produce the first handwritten and illuminated Bible since the invention of the printing press. The final pages were completed earlier this year.

The Heritage Edition is a full-size fine art reproduction of the original masterpiece. Each of the seven volumes that make up The Saint John’s Bible is approximately two feet tall by three feet wide when open, and weighs between 13 and 20 pounds. A limited number of these signed and numbered editions are being produced.

To learn more, go to The Saint John’s Bible.