The Saint John's Bible

At the top of the pages you can see the hand-illuminated details. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpellgen/6200... (Creative Commons)

The lifelong dream of prolific calligrapher, Donald Jackson, to create a hand-illuminated and hand-written bible came true in 1998 through what is now known as the “Bible project.”

The Bible project was commissioned by the Benedictine Church at St. John’s University in 1998 and was scheduled for completion in 2011, however its detailed process has pushed the deadline back to an undetermined date. Donald Jackson being the official scribe of Queen Elizabeth II created his own script specifically for this project. Using the New Revise Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE), the St. John’s Bible is made of vellum, it cost over $4 million dollars to produce, and contains seven volumes. The sight of the Bible itself is impressive seeing as the books are two feet tall and three feet wide when open.

You can visit The Saint John’s Bible at one of the touring exhibitions, or at the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library on the campus of Saint John’s University. If you are unable to make it in person you can get a good look at the Bible through the images and information on this web site.

Know Before You Go

From Saint Cloud Take Division Street (County Road 75) west through Saint Joseph; it will merge with I-94. Take I-94 West to exit 156. Follow the signs south onto the Saint John's University Campus. HMML is located in the Bush Center found at the corner of the second left as you enter the campus. Parking is available in Science Lot 1 (also at the second left) or near the Abbey Church. From the Minneapolis and Saint Paul metropolitan area Take I-94 West to exit 156. Follow the signs south onto the Saint John's University Campus. HMML is located in the Bush Center found at the corner of the second left as you enter the campus. Parking is available in Science Lot 1 (also at the second left) or near the Abbey Church.