Handwritten Bible facts

St. John's Bible at a glance

Facts about The St. John's Bible:

SIZE: A total of seven volumes, each 15 3/4 inches wide by 23 1/2 inches tall when closed. Total number of pages: about 1,150.

TOOLS AND MATERIALS: The St. John's Bible is written on calfskin vellum using goose and swan quills. The team of scribes uses natural handmade inks, hand-ground pigments and gold and silver leaf gilding.

LAYOUT AND DESIGN: A computer was used to size text and define line breaks. These pages are laid out in full-size spreads with sketches in position. Artists use these layouts to guide their work. Each page contains an illuminated book heading. Pentateuch book titles appear in English on the left page and Hebrew on the right page.

SCRIPT: The calligraphic script was specially designed by Donald Jackson. Letters are written in lamp black ink from century-old Chinese stick ink made from carbon.

TRANSLATION: The New Revised Standard Version was selected by theologians and scholars at St. John's University as the translation for The St. John's Bible.

ILLUMINATIONS: There will be 160 illuminations when The St. John's Bible is completed.PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

(DECEMBER 2003):

Gospel and Acts, completed May 2002.

Pentateuch, completed August 2003.

Psalms, completed April 2004.

Prophets, February 2005 (projected completion date).

Wisdom Books and Poetry, November 2005 (projected).

Historical Books, August 2006 (projected).

Letters and Revelation, July 2007 (projected).ORDER OF VOLUMES, ONCE FINISHED

Pentateuch, 158 pages.

Historical Books, 319 pages.

Prophets, 272 pages.

Wisdom Books and Poetry, 102 pages.

Psalms, 80 pages.

Gospel and Acts, 135 pages.

Letters and Revelation, 93 pages.

Source: The St. John's Bible, AP