Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., April 05, 2008 Adar2 30, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:27 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 18:49 04/04/2008 Pope receives rare handwritten edition of Bible in private ceremony By The Associated Press Tags: pope, bible, old testament VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI was presented Friday with one of the limited editions of the St. John's Bible, the first known handwritten Bible commissioned by a Benedictine monastery since the invention of the printing press over 500 years ago. The Wisdom Books, a limited edition reproduction of one of the Old Testament volumes of the 1,150 page-Bible measures more than half a meter tall and nearly one meter wide when open. It was presented to the pope during a private audience. He will receive the remaining six volumes over the next four years. Advertisement "The pope's eyes lit up with joy and enthusiasm as he turned the pages," said Cardinal Theodore McCormick, retired archbishop of Washington, D.C. The Bible's British artist, Donald Jackson, once scribe to Queen Elizabeth II, was also present at the audience. Over the past 10 years, he and a team of calligraphy experts painstakingly painted every page on parchment, using goose feather quills, ancient inks and precious metals to illustrate the original handwritten text. When the pope remarked that this Bible was 'a work for eternity,' he expressed what I feel a lot of the time, the artist said. Jackson said it would take another 22 months to complete the last two volumes of the seven-volume Bible. The US$4 million (2.54 million) project, funded by private donations, was commissioned by St. John's Abbey in Minnesota, one of the largest Benedictine monasteries in the world. The Benedictines, whose order was founded in Italy by St. Benedict around 530, have a long tradition of manuscript sharing and preservation. The original manuscript of the new Bible is stored in special cases in a vault in the neighboring St. John's University run by the order. If the methods used to illustrate St. John's Bible are age old, the imagery is updated with such modern touches as views of Earth taken from outer-space for the Creation in the Old Testament, and an image of the Twin Towers to illustrate forgiveness in the Gospel parable of the Prodigal Son. The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, a modern English translation, is the version being used for the text. Its language is gender inclusive when referring to men and women. While the more elaborate reproductions of the new Bible can cost over $100,000, pocket editions are already available at $70. Related articles: Pope nixes reference to Jews` `blindness` over Jesus in prayer Pope to visit N.Y. synagogue led by Holocaust survivor ADL urges Pope to suspend Pius sainthood over Holocaust inaction Pro-Israel group asks Pope to remove anti-Semitism from religious art Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bread will abound J'lem court allows pizzerias, bakeries to sell leavened products during Passover. The looking glass A T.A. film festival tackles Israel's hardest issues from war to polygamy.

Today Online Israel and U.S. to coordinate on boycott of anti-racism meet Responses: 189 Former militant leader: The Palestinian people is finished Responses: 188 Poll: Nearly half of Israeli Arabs say let Iran develop nukes Responses: 47 Hamas: Gaza sniper aimed for Public Security Min. Dichter Responses: 63 Syria: We choose peace, but we're ready for Israeli attack Responses: 53 Rosner's Domain Government trying to block witness in AIPAC trial (WTR) Rabbi Yoffie vs. Pastor Hagee What is worth fighting for? Intermarriage pushes the question: what does it mean to be Jewish? Israel Factor: McCain-Barak, the dream team More Headlines 01:25 12 Palestinian prisoners break out of Nablus jail 00:46 Hamas: Gaza sniper aimed for Public Security Min. Dichter 02:32 Orthodox rabbi speaks at event marking 40th anniversary of MLK's assassination 22:18 Putin: Moscow committed to hosting Mideast peace meet 16:07 Gazans eat endangered turtle termed 'as good as Viagra' 01:16 Obama, Clinton, McCain to co-Chair Israel 60th committee 22:58 T-shirt mogul apologizes to Woody Allen for image of him as Hasid 10:47 'Marching toward total ruin' 16:36 Israel, U.S. to coordinate on boycott of Durban II conference 11:00 Syria: We choose peace, but we're ready for Israeli attack 18:11 Two men suspected of attempted rape released after complainants recant 10:42 Health Ministry: 'Complacence, negligence' cause patient's death 14:13 U.K. Foreign Sec.: Israel's future depends on Palestinian statehood 13:13 Wiesenthal Center blasts Nazi-themed cosmetics ad in S. Korea Previous Editions Select Day 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today Behind the Z Word Scholarly essays, commentary, podcasts, blogs and much more. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved