Folio 27r from the Lindisfarne Gospels contains the incipit from the Gospel of Matthew.

The Lindisfarne Gospels is an illuminated Latin manuscript of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The manuscript was produced on Lindisfarne in Northumbria in the late 7th century or early 8th century, and is generally regarded as the finest example of the kingdom's unique style of religious art, a style that combined Anglo-Saxon and Celtic themes, what is now called Hiberno-Saxon art, or Insular art. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1266x1797, 539 KB)Folio 27r from the Lindisfarne Gospels, Incipit to the Gospel of Matthew From [http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1266x1797, 539 KB)Folio 27r from the Lindisfarne Gospels, Incipit to the Gospel of Matthew From [http://www. ... The Gospel of Matthew (literally, according to Matthew; Greek, Κατά Μαθθαίον or Κατά Ματθαίον, Kata Maththaion or Kata Matthaion) is one of the four Gospel accounts of the New Testament. ... In the strictest definition of illuminated manuscript, only manuscripts decorated with gold or silver, like this miniature of Christ in Majesty from the Aberdeen Bestiary (folio 4v), would be considered illuminated. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... For the genre of Christian-themed music, see gospel music. ... The Gospel of Matthew (literally, according to Matthew; Greek, Κατά Μαθθαίον or Κατά Ματθαίον, Kata Maththaion or Kata Matthaion) is one of the four Gospel accounts of the New Testament. ... The Gospel of Mark (literally, according to Mark; Greek, Κατά Μαρκον, Kata Markon),(anonymous[1] but ascribed to Mark the Evangelist) is a Gospel of the New Testament. ... The Gospel of Luke is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels of the New Testament, which tell the story of Jesus life, death, and resurrection. ... The Gospel of John is the fourth gospel in the canon of the New Testament, traditionally ascribed to John the Evangelist. ... Map of the UK showing the location of Lindisfarne at 55. ... Section from Shepherds map of the British Isles about 802 AD showing the kingdom of Northumbria Northumbria is primarily the name of a petty kingdom of Angles which was formed in Great Britain at the beginning of the 7th century, from two smaller kingdoms of Bernicia and Diera, and... The 7th century is the period from 601 - 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... (7th century — 8th century — 9th century — other centuries) Events The Iberian peninsula is taken by Arab and Berber Muslims, thus ending the Visigothic rule, and starting almost 8 centuries of Muslim presence there. ... Muiredacha Cross. ... This page (folio 292r) of the Book of Kells contains the lavishly decorated text that opens the Gospel of John. ...

The Lindisfarne Gospels are presumed to be the work of the monk named Eadfrith, who became Bishop of Lindisfarne in 698 and died in 721. Current scholarship indicates a date around 715, and it is believed they were produced in honour of St. Cuthbert. The Gospels are richly illustrated in the insular 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 the Viking raids on Lindisfarne, however, this cover was lost, and a replacement made in 1852. The text is written in insular script. Eadfrith of Lindisfarne (died 721) also known as Saint Eadfrith was Bishop of Lindisfarne from 698 until 721. ... The episcopal see of Lindisfarne was founded in 635 by Saint Aidan. ... Events Tiberius III deposes Leontius and becomes Byzantine Emperor. ... Former Byzantine emperor Anastasius II leads a revolt against emperor Leo III Theuderic IV succeeds Chilperic II Battle of Toulouse - Al-Samh ibn Malik al-Khawlani, the governor Muslim Spain (al-Andalus) is defeated by Duke Odo of Aquitaine preventing an Arab invasion of Gaul. ... Events August 11 - Germanus is translated from the bishopric of Cyzicus to the Patriarch of Constantinople Umayyad caliph al-Walid I ibn Abd al-Malik succeeded by Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik End of the reign of Empress Gemmei of Japan, she is succeeded by Empress Gensho. ... Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (ca. ... Anchorite (male)/anchoress (female), from the Greek anachōreō, signifying to withdraw, to depart into the country outside the circumvallated city, denotes someone – prominently in earlier Christian and medieval times – who for religious reasons withdraws from the secular society and leads an intensely prayer-oriented and, circumstances permitting, Mass-focused... (7th century — 8th century — 9th century — other centuries) Events The Iberian peninsula is taken by Arab and Berber Muslims, thus ending the Visigothic rule, and starting almost 8 centuries of Muslim presence there. ... The term king commonly denotes the ship-borne warriors, pirates and traders of Norsemen (literally, men from the north) who originated in Scandinavia and raided the coasts of britain and ireland as far east as the Volga River in Russia from the late 8–18th century. ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The beginning of the Gospel of Mark from the Book of Durrow. ...

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 the first translation of the Gospels into the English language. As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ... Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon[1], Old English: ) is an early form of the English language that was spoken in parts of what is now England and southern Scotland between the mid-fifth century and the mid-twelfth century. ... A Gloss–word, phrase, (or syllable), is the dictionary entry for that word. ... Aldred of Lindisfarne (died 968) was Bishop of Lindisfarne from 947 to 968. ... Chester-le-Street is a market town in County Durham, England with a history going back to Roman times. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

The Gospels were taken from Durham Cathedral during the dissolution of the monasteries, ordered by Henry VIII, and were acquired in the early 17th century by Sir Robert Cotton from Robert Bowyer, Clerk of the Parliaments. Cotton's library came to the British Museum in the 18th century, and from there to the British Library in London. Durham Cathedrals famous Sanctuary Knocker on the North Door Ground plan of Durham Cathedral Legend of the founding of Durham depicted on cathedral The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham, which is almost always referred to as Durham Cathedral, in the city... Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland, from 22 April 1509 until his death. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Portrait of Robert Cotton, commissioned 1626 and attributed to Cornelius Johnson (or Janssen), (1593-1661). ... The Clerk of the Parliaments is the chief clerk of the House of Lords in the parliament of the United Kingdom. ... The Lindisfarne Gospels is but one of the treasures collected by Sir Robert Cotton. ... The British Museum in London, England is one of the worlds greatest museums of human history and culture. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... British Library main building, London The British Library (BL) is the national library of the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

A campaign exists to have the gospels brought back to Durham Cathedral in the North East of England, a move vigorously opposed by the British Library. A modern facsimile copy of the Gospels is now housed in the Cathedral Treasury at Durham, which can be seen by visitors. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Durham (IPA: locally, in RP) is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham in North East England. ...

See also

• Illuminated manuscript
• List of Hiberno-Saxon illustrated manuscripts
• Old English Bible translations

In the strictest definition of illuminated manuscript, only manuscripts decorated with gold or silver, like this miniature of Christ in Majesty from the Aberdeen Bestiary (folio 4v), would be considered illuminated. ... Hiberno-Saxon manuscripts are those manuscripts made in the British Isles from about 500 CE to about 1000 CE, or those manuscripts made on the continent in scriptoria founded by Irish or Anglo-Saxon missionaries and which are stylistically similar to the manuscripts produced in the British Isles. ... A number of Old English Bible translations were prepared in mediaeval England, translations of parts of the Bible into the Old English language. ...

References

• Calkins, Robert G. Illuminated Books of the Middle Ages. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 1983.
• De Hamel, Christopher. A History of Illuminated Manuscripts. Boston: David R. Godine, 1986.
• Brown, Michelle P., The Lindisfarne Gospels: Society, Spirituality and the Scribe. London: The British Library, 2003

External links

• Turning the PagesLeaf through the Lindisfarne Gospels online using the British Library's Turning the Pages software (requires Shockwave plugin)
• The diocese of Durham's page on the Gospels
• The Lindisfarne Gospels, a free online seminar from the British Library.
• Lindisfarne Gospels: information, zoomable image British Library website
• British Library Digital Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts entry
• Lindisfarne Gospels, from the Northumbrian Association.