Lindisfarne Gospels

The Lindisfarne Gospels are an illustrated Latin edition of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Gospels were written down by a monk of Lindisfarne named Eadfrith in the 7th Century. He later became Bishop of Lindisfarne (698AD) and died in 721AD. The Gospels are richly illustrated in the Celtic style, and were originally encased in a fine leather binding covered with jewels and metals made by Billfrith the Anchorite[?] in the 8th Century. During Viking raids on Lindisfarne, however, this cover was lost, and a replacement made in 1852.

In the 10th Century an Old English translation of the Gospels was made - a word-for-word gloss inserted between the lines of the Latin text by Aldred, Provost of Chester-le-Street[?]. This is now the first known translation of the gospels into the English language.

Recently, the Gospels were moved from their traditional location in Durham Cathedral (the bishopric under which Lindisfarne falls) to the British Library in London - a proceeding which has caused some controversy in the region.

See: Illuminated manuscript

External Link

http://www.durham.anglican.org/reference/lindisfarne/ - The diocese of Durham's page on the Gospels

http://www.bl.uk - the British Library Online.