Listen to Father David of OLV Charities in Lackawanna, New York in conversation with Rev. Dr. John F. Ross, Executive Director of the Heritage Program, on the November 2023 episode of the OLV podcast. The pair discuss how they’ve seen The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition impact those who’ve experienced it, what to expect when The Saint John’s Bible exhibit kicks off at the OLV National Shrine & Basilica on Dec. 3, and even The Reverend’s first interaction with The Saint John’s Bible.
Only 12 Apostles Edition sets of The Saint John’s Bible exist.
And it’s only fitting that one should reside in the United Kingdom, the nation in which the project was conceived and principally created.
That is now the case after Wednesday when an Apostles Edition was presented to The Most Reverend Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, on behalf of the Church of England during a burnishing ceremony and prayer service held at the Lambeth Palace Library in London.
Watch WCCO’s segment on The Saint John’s Bible 25th Anniversary Dedication Tour featuring Executive Director of the Heritage Program Rev. Dr. John F. Ross.
It’s been 25 years since St. John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minn., commissioned the first handwritten, hand-illuminated Bible since the invention of the printing press.
To commemorate the anniversary, St. John’s is presenting rare reproductions of the tome to institutions in the Church of England.
Read the full article by Kirsti Mahron here.
Sarum College in Salisbury is the first stop in a week-long series of national events to commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Saint John’s Bible, the first handwritten and illuminated Bible commissioned by a Benedictine monastery since the invention of the printing press in the 15th century.
Read the full news release here.
The Episcopal News Service reported on the Washington National Cathedral’s reception of a rare Apostles Edition of The Saint John’s Bible in an article written by Shireen Korkzan on October 16, 2023.
In an article published by KNSI Radio on October 18th, 2023, Jennifer Lewerenz reports on the Washington National Cathedral’s “historic” acquisition of an Apostles Edition of The Saint John’s Bible, the first handwritten bible commissioned by a Benedictine monastery in more than 500 years.
Washington National Cathedral welcomes an Apostles Edition of The Saint John’s Bible in an online news post published on October 9, 2023. “The Saint John’s Bible is a testament to the enduring power of faith and art that invites us to explore the sacred in new ways,” said Dean Hollerith in the announcement. “We are deeply honored to receive this extraordinary work of sacred art and Scripture, and hope it will serve as a profound source of inspiration for our community and visitors alike.”
In an article published by The Washington Times on October 19, 2023, Mark A. Kellner highlights the gift of one of only 12 existing Apostles Edition sets of The Saint John’s Bible, received by the Washington National Cathedral.
Pax Christi Catholic Community in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is currently hosting one volume of the Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible. Enamored with the golden, technicolored beauty of the Heritage Edition – a fine arts edition of the original manuscript – Pax Christi has incorporated the volume into its worship services. After arriving at the church back in November 2022, the volume also has been at the center of visiting events put on for the community to enjoy through mid-November of this year.
Starting on May 31, Pax Christi plans on hosting weekly Visio Divina sessions on Wednesday evenings. “We’re going to take 13 different illuminations, and we’re going to read the scripture from it, then look at the image and talk about what we see, how is this speaking to us, and just have conversation together around it,” said parish director Carl Bishop. “That’s also open to anybody who would want to be here.”
In Colorado Springs, Colorado, Saint Michael’s Episcopal Church is set to obtain its illuminated, seven-volume Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible, according to the daily newspaper, The Colorado Springs Gazette. This summer, Saint Michael’s will hold visiting appointments for the display of the Gospels and Acts volume of the work, complete with trained ambassadors to provide valuable insight and context to visitors. In the fall of this year, the church will have the complete set of volumes, thanks to generous donors.
The National Episcopal Church Women (ECW) – a ministry of the Episcopal Church that champions women’s rights – shared their appreciation of The Saint John’s Bible and its depictions of feminine wisdom in theology. The ECW highlights the feminine nature of Wisdom in Volume III of the Heritage Edition, using the piece of art titled Wisdom Woman as the cover of a recent issue of their magazine, Communiqué.
Azusa Pacific University’s Libraries will display a special collections exhibit entitled Advent Voices: Waiting Between Time for the Star of the East. “The goal is to provide a space for people to come in and reflect on Advent and perhaps glean insight from the voices of those who spoke from that time period” says Luba V. Zakharov, the University’s librarian and Advent series curator.
The Berea College Hutchins Library’s Special Collections and Archives and the Campus Christian Center are offering the public an opportunity to take a close look at the College’s Heritage Edition of the Saint John’s Bible, Set 111. [This is] an inductive experience and a good opportunity to show one of the great treasures on our campus” says Tim Binkley, head of Special Collections and Archives.
First-Plymouth Church in Lincoln, Nebraska will host the local debut of The Saint John’s Bible and two volumes, Gospel & Acts and Pentateuch, will be publicly displayed during “The Majesty of the Bible,” event created for the church and the community.
Rev. Dr. John Ross who will speak at the event on October 19, 2022 expects people to be “fascinated by the creative process and inspired by the ultimate outcome of the first handwritten, illuminated, monumental Bible since the invention of the printing press.”
St. John’s Episcopal Church in Essex, Connecticut recently welcomed a volume of The Saint John’s Bible that they will use to inspire the spiritual imaginations of their congregation until August 2023.
The church intends to incorporate The Bible over the coming year into its internal programming and community outreach.
At the back of every Heritage Edition, you’ll find a name in small print: Roswell Bookbinding. “For us, it’s the job of a lifetime,” says president Mike Roswell. “Literally.”
The Waco, TX university’s acquisition “offers a unique opportunity for the Baylor Libraries to become part of a select group of institutions that will preserve this treasure for decades to come.”
What to expect during your visit to The Saint John’s Bible Gallery on the Saint John’s University campus.