By Angie Schmitz

The Hill Museum and Manuscript Library is home to many important historical texts and manuscripts from around the world.

Scholars come from far distances to use the resources it possesses. But it is probably most known for its ongoing production of the St. John’s Bible. The HMML is also dedicated to preserving historical manuscripts.

As of last week, visitors have another reason to visit the HMML.

The library recently received two books to add to its rare books collection.

Executive director of the HMML Columba Stewart recently announced the addition of “The Dialogues of Pope Gregory the Great,” a Benedictine text and “The Ostrih Bible,” written in a language used commonly in Slavic Christianity.

It’s important for these manuscripts to be preserved, Martin said.
“We need to capture that culture and that history so it’s not lost,” she said.

In the beginning

The vision for the St. John’s Bible came from calligrapher Donald Jackson of Wales. According to the project’s Web site, Jackson’s lifelong dream was to write the Bible by hand.

“People love the project because it’s so well designed,” project director Carol Marrin said. “It’s so beautiful.”

Jackson proposed the project to the St. John’s Abbey in 1995, and the Board of Regents and the monastery came to a consensus to go ahead with the project in 1998.

On March 8, 2000, the first words, “In the beginning,” were written on calf skin vellum.

Since then, five volumes have been completed, and two more are in the production process.

The Bible is expected to be finished in 2009.

Martin said that the art in the Bible causes people to see the stories in a different way.

“This could be a project that invites people into Scripture today,” she said. “It has the potential of getting people excited.”

Around the world

Parts of the St. John’s Bible have been taken on exhibitions, and a great portion of it is now on the “Illuminating the Word” exhibition sponsored by Target. Over a million people have seen parts of the original, including Pope John Paul II, Marrin said.

Pope Benedict XVI will receive a copy of the Heritage Edition when it is complete.

Filed under: News by Sean Landman