By Shilpa George, Waterdown LEAD Assistant
The School Sisters of Notre Dame at Waterdown, Ontario, recently experienced a profound encounter with divine art in the form of the Saint John’s Bible.
As the Sisters turned its pages, they were met with breathtaking illuminations, intricate calligraphy, and the timeless words of Scripture, brought to life in a way that bridges centuries of tradition with modern artistry.
The Saint John’s Bible is truly special. It was entirely written by hand, features illuminations (hand-painted illustrations using real gold and other metals), and is remarkably large, standing at about half a meter tall.
The writing style used in the Bible is calligraphy, which means "beautiful writing."
The letters were created using special inks and quills. Instead of pens, the scribes or calligraphers (those who transcribed the text) used bird feathers that were treated and cut to function like pens.
The scribes wrote for seven years, yet the Bible was still unfinished, as the exquisite artwork had to be added to the pages.
It took four more years for the artists to complete the illuminations, with some working for a month on a single page.
The Bible was not written or painted on ordinary paper. Its pages are made from vellum, which is cow skin. Thanks to this material, the Bible can last for over 500 years.
Docent Brian Craig presented the two-day program. The first day focused on understanding the artistry behind the Saint John’s Bible, while the second day delved deeper into the meaning of the art, specifically exploring the theme of resurrection.
Sister Celeste Reinhart organized this inspiring and moving presentation for the Sisters.
