The St. Johns Illuminated Bibles

Saint John's University and the monks of Saint John's Abbey have commissioned The Saint John's Illuminated Bible. This is the first time in 500 years that a Benedictine Monastery has commissioned a handwritten, illuminated Bible. Its construction will parallel that of its medieval predecessors, written on vellum, using quills, natural handmade inks, hand-ground pigments and gold leaf while incorporating modern themes, images and technology of the 21st century.

Donald Jackson, official scribe of Queen Elizabeth II, created a new script specifically for this project. Donald Jackson's scriptorium is located in Wales where he spends most of his time working on The Saint John's Bible. He leads a team of calligraphers writing and illuminating the Bible. The team is made up of skilled scribes, some who work at the scriptorium and others who take pages of vellum back to their own studios

The translation of the Bible known as the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) was chosen for The Saint John's Bible.