Amityville Dominicans Examine Replicas of the St. John's Bible -- First Hand-Written Bible in 500 years

In December, staff from Molloy College brought two volumes of reproductions of the St. John's Bible to Amityville Dominican Motherhouse, Queen of the Rosary in Amityville, NY.

The St. John's Bible is the first-handwritten and hand-illuminated Bible to be produced in 500 years!  In 1998, Saint John's Abbey and University in Minnesota commissioned renowned calligrapher Donald Jackson to produce the Bible. This work of art unites an ancient Benedictine tradition of art with the technology and vision of today, illuminating the Word of God for a new millennium.

The Sisters were amazed to learn about the process and actually examine the beautiful pages. 

Joan Vlaun, OP, is no stranger to the St. John's Bible!  In 1999, as a lover of Scripture and art, she couldn't resist seeing the first handwritten Bible in 500 years in person!
S. Joan chose to spend a week in Minnesota learning and meditating on this special project.

 She recalled: "I was able to touch the last book before it was sent off to print; You could see your reflection in the gold."

When the experience was over, she brought back boxes of materials on the project to her parish of St. John the Evangelist in Schenectady. Now, that she resides in the Motherhouse, she has donated her framed artwork, books and many other articles related to the St. John Bible to the community. 

"I'm delighted that Molloy College would invest in these books," S. Joan said, noting that Molloy College is the only institution on Long Island that owns any of these reproductions.