The Saint John's Bible Comes to Duke

The vibrant images and elegant hand-drawn script of The Saint John’s Bible have inspired scholars, preachers, musicians, and artists in their creative works. Commissioned by Saint John's Abbey and University in Minnesota, The Saint John’s Bible was created by a team of artists led by calligrapher Donald Jackson using traditional materials such as vellum, ancient inks, gold leaf, and quill pens.

All seven volumes of a rare, fine art “Heritage Edition” of The Saint John’s Bible are coming to Duke University on October 3, 2024, as a permanent resource for students, faculty, and community members.

Dr. Daniel Train is among the leaders of the effort to bring The Saint John’s Bible to campus; he is the associate director of Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts and also a co-editor of the book The Saint John's Bible and Its Tradition: Illuminating Beauty in the Twenty-First Century. In the latest episode of the Chapel's Sounds of Faith podcast, Dr. Train talks about how the hundreds of paintings, called illuminations, in The Saint John’s Bible bring to life the sacred book’s words and faith.

Subscribe to Sounds of Faith:

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See The Saint John's Bible up close at these celebratory events on October 3:

• 11:45 a.m. in Goodson Chapel, Duke Divinity School — Dr. Ellen Davis, Amos Ragan Kearns Distinguished Professor of Bible and Practical Theology, will offer a sermon inspired by several key texts and illuminations from the Bible. Several volumes will be on display during and after the service.
   
• 3:30 p.m. in Goodson Chapel — Tim Ternes, director of The Saint John's Bible project, will discuss the Bible's creative process, team, and history and will also remark on the Bible's impact on a research community informed by tradition and innovation. The lecture will include guided imagery discussions on selected illuminations. Several volumes will be displayed before and after this educational and dynamic lecture. Community members, including middle and high school students, are encouraged to attend.
   
• 7:30 p.m. in Duke Chapel — Duke University will celebrate the reception of the permanent gift in a formal service including congregational singing, an official dedication, and a concluding reception on the Duke Chapel grounds. All seven volumes will be on view, and attendees will have the opportunity to engage the works up-close. The event is open to all members of the Durham and surrounding communities. Watch the service live.