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(Kim Raff | The Salt Lake Tribune) Arlene Jonsson looks through one of the books in the reproduction of the St. John's Bible on display at the Cathedral Church of St. Mark in Salt Lake City on Oct. 3, 2012. The Bible was produced by St. Johns Abbey and University, Collegeville, Minn. Renowned calligrapher Donald Jackson and a team of fellow artists and scribes were commissioned to produce this handwritten, hand-illuminated Bible whose seven volumes measure two feet high and three feet wide when opened.

The Word in pictures: Artistic Bible on display in SLC

THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

In the time before the printing press, Bibles were meticulously copied and illuminated by monks. Each style of calligraphy and design carried its own significance and was treasured by various groups of believers.

In the 1990s, Donald Jackson, senior scribe to Queen Elizabeths Crown Office and a renowned calligrapher, assembled a team of artists to produce a new, handwritten, hand-illuminated Bible. Using the Revised Standard Translation of the Bible and produced by St. Johns Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minn., this new Bible had seven volumes, measuring two feet high and three feet wide when opened.

It was designed "to capture the beauty and tradition of centuries of liturgy and carry it into the future," according to the website, saintjohnsbible.org.

Six of the Bibles seven volumes will be on display at Salt Lake Citys Cathedral Church of St. Mark,231 E. 100 South,through Saturday (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). On Sunday at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., the Rev. Kirtley Yearwood will be at the cathedral "to offer spiritual and biblical teachings" as well as give the sermon.

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The Word in pictures: Artistic Bible on display in SLC