Saint John's Bible: Gospels and Acts (Hardcover)

~ Donald Jackson (Author) "When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.19..." (more)
Key Phrases: Marv Magdalene

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...revives the ancient tradition of the church sponsoring creative arts, and insight into the lost skill of patient/prayerful reading." -- Archbishop Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

"An impressive achievement." -- The Catholic Answer

"Hands down the most exciting of the books presented this year. The Gospels and Acts of the Apostles are presented in a way that literally illuminates each page with the inherent dignity and grace of the scripture. This book is not only ornate in a way the average Bible couldn't. It is worth the price and will be cherished forever in a persona library or a house of worship.: -- The Catholic Press Association

"Holding Gospels and Acts in one's hands invites a spirit of reverence and wonder!" -- Prairie Messenger

"One of the extraordinary undertakings of our time." -- Smithsonian Magazine

"Words alone cannot describe the experience of reading and contemplating this hand-written and illuminated Bible." -- Catholic Library World

Product Description

The first in a seven-volume series of full-color, page-by-page reproductions from The Saint John's Bible, Gospels and Acts has more than 25 illuminations, including full-page opening illuminations for each of the four gospels. Some of the prominent illuminations include the Genealogy of Jesus, the Birth of Christ, the Raising of Lazarus, the Crucfixion, Christ Our Light, the Last Supper, the Road to Emmaus, and Pentecost.

The Word of God, hand-illuminated through ancient methods by a contemporary master, brings the reader to an epiphany of the sacred. Those who allow themselves to savor the experience unfolding before them will come to see how Gospels and Acts beautifully marries text and image to serve the Word.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 136 pages
• Publisher: Liturgical Press (February 23, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814690513
• ISBN-13: 978-0814690512
• Product Dimensions: 15.3 x 10.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #89,040 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astounding work, May 4, 2006

By	Seth (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

I saw the exhibit for the Saint John's Bible when it was on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It was literally breath-taking seeing the intricate detail and craftsmanship that went into this amazing and inspired project.

The work is not only crafted well, but is approached with extreme thoughtfulness and obvious reverence and love. The thematic devices woven through the illuminations tell the wonderful stories of the scriptures in picture and the weaving of imagery, symbology, typography and design embrace all periods of book arts, from traditional and calligraphy type faces to modern geometrical type design.

As a graphic designer, I appreciate the thought and planning that had to have taken place even before the illustrations and type were laid out. This is a very important work created with deep respect and love for the holy scriptures.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of a kind..., February 7, 2006

By	B. Teris (San Francisco, CA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Saint John's Bible is a one of a kind illuminated creation. As a calligrapher I am thrilled to look at the professional detail Donald Jackson and his crew have put forth into this project. Its remarkable illuminations are full of color and vigor.
True, the text may be somewhat 'small' for the page, but in fact it is proportionate to the actual Bible (a size which would be way too large to print). The gold illumination may not look like 'gold' at first glance, it resembles a bright yellow, but this is difficult to capture in a book.
All in all if you are interested in the art of calligraphy, this is a keeper. As an atheist the text does not captivate me, I am solely interested in the art. So if you are Christian/Catholic and love art, you can hit two birds with one stone and have double the pleasure!

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking/Spine-tingling, June 18, 2006

By	Rev. Dr. Helen R. Betenbaugh "HBWheels" (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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Never will I forget the morning when I was packing for a pilgrimage to British cathedrals and abbeys and had the TODAY show on the bedroom tv as I worked. There was Donald Jackson, and there was his extraordinary rendering of the convoluted genealogy which opens Matthew's Gospel. Yes, it's a gorgeous, amazing piece of art in its own right, and this from a priest who once held a Gutenberg Bible in her bare hands in Germany. What struck me far more deeply was the intelligence, the heart, the soul, and the depth of the insights which had come together to empower the kind of prophetic, spiritual rendering he produced. I was stunned!

Since then I've told dozens about Mr. Jackson and his workshop in Wales, and I've gotten on board with St. John's Abbey as both a financial contributor and a newsletter recipient. Originally I didn't dare hope that the mss. would be made available in book form for "us mere mortals" to own. This one would definitely be on my proverbial "the 10 books I'd want if I were marooned on an island" list.