The Book Of Kells: An Illuminated Manuscripts

Monasticism was a way of life for those who thought everyday life too sinful, and decided to devote themselves to God, either communally in the monastery or lavriote, a life of solitude. St Benedict around five hundred and forty AD set down rules which were to become the basis for monastic life in the Catholic church; poverty, obedience, chastity, and work. In these monasteries theology was preserved. A different form of monasticism developed in Ireland due to the fact it was isolated from the rest of Europe. Monks were more like the hermits of Egypt rather those of Roman Christianity. Scholarship developed in these monasteries, also a new form of art called Hiberno-Saxon. These monasteries kept literacy skills alive. Monks would transcribe and decorate sacred texts by hand. Such texts include the Book of Kells and the Lindisfaire

All of the Gospels describe the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, but each author illustrates the stories differently. Scholars believe Mark is the first Gospel written and is symbolized by a lion to denote Christ as powerful and fast-paced. The Book of John, understood to be the last gospel composed, is perceived as an eagle because the story differs greatly and is often more developed than the other Gospels. Comparing John 2 to the Gospel of Mark will depict unique themes and characteristics of Jesus.

The Middle Ages is the time between the fall of the Roman Empire to the rise of the Renaissance. As the government of Rome disappeared with the fall of the Roman Empire, people were living dangerous, hopeless lives. Religion became an important influence in the Middle Ages not just in Rome, but for other countries in Medieval Europe who sought comfort in this religion. One of the most influential and rising religion during the Middle Ages was Christianity. The Rise and Spread of Christianity in the Middle Ages can be characterized by the fall of the Roman Empire, efforts by Pope Gregory the Great, and activities of the church.

"The Book of Kells- Arrest of Christ", Insular Monks, on vellum, c. 900 B.C., now in the Trinity College library

The Secret of Kells and The Black Robe are both movies that include interactions between non christens and christens but The Black Robe has a less violent approach and uses the interaction for economic reasons than The Secret of Kells who don’t want the interacted all but need it for there survival.

Religion played an important role in life during the Middle Ages. Christianity itself was a huge factor in everyday life. Monks and nuns were men and women who devoted their lives to Christianity by cutting their ties with the outside world. They achieved this by living apart from the outside world in secluded communities known as monasteries where they could focus their attention, religious studies and practices/activities. These communities self-sufficient as they were able to harvest crops and raise animals. Nuns lived in similar communities known as convents. These were separate from the monasteries.

Monasticism is a religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work. Monastic life plays an important role in many Christian churches. Monasticism had many contributions of books and manuscripts. One of the earliest surviving Gospels from this period is the “Book of Durrow” (Stokstad & Cothren W., 2014).

The two books of the Bible, Matthew and Mark are alike in many ways, they do tell some of the same stories. On the other hand, if one takes a closer look there are small changes to the stories that bring a whole new meaning to the way that the story is told. I will focus on the stories of Jesus walking on water and the transfiguration of Jesus. In this paper, I will review the changes that Matthew made to the Gospel according to Mark. I will also explain the reasons why he may have made those changes and to what purpose those changes served.

The Lindisfarne gospel is an illuminated manuscript that contains the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, also containing a detailed depiction of each evangelist represented in artistic bright coloring. There are intertwining patterns that twist together forming a beautiful cross to represent the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, a prominent symbol in the Christian faith. It was made and kept at a monastery on Lindisfarne Priory on Holy Island, a Christian community that safeguarded a shrine of the highly respected Bishop St. Cuthbert. The monks read the gospels during rituals and ceremonies that took place on the holy island to assist them in prayer. The monks who so carefully copied this book from Latin to their native language

A Gospel in general, is a textual document written in narrative form of the good news and teachings proclaimed by Jesus to announce the power of God. Mark’s Gospel is one of four others (Matthew, Luke and John), where each Gospel has its differences in structure, language and theological slants. Mark’s Gospel is divided into three main sections: The Ministry of Jesus, Jesus’ prologue of foretelling his Passion, and his Passion and Death. Mark set out

The Book of Kells is a famous work of Christian and Celtic artistic decision, so famous to the point that an animated picture was created, the Secret of Kells, which focused on the origin of the Book of Kells as well as incorporating Celtic mythology. The most celebrated page of the gospel is Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, the Greek letters spelling chi rho iota (XPI). Each letter in the monogram is outlined and then they are subdivided into panels. Within the panel lines and spirals are interlaced together depicting animals and snakes. The painters of the Gospel pages incorporated within these spirals are multiple pictorial and symbolic references to

The Monastery played a role in supplying priests for the Churches since the monasteries were also theological seminaries for those who wanted to join the priesthood. The medieval monasteries thought priests how to live a holy Christian life and the necessity of purity and humility. The monks were the ones who used to save the church especially when problems arose between the priests and the congregation. . It was also an institution of scrutiny and correction of oneself. The main reason for this was because the monks were highly trusted by the people and people expected them to be like God. Confession of one’s wrongdoing was usually made on a daily basis during prayer time. Monasticism had a positive impact from the political, social, educational and religious point of

The Book of Kells (sometimes known as the Book of Columba) is an illuminated manuscript in Latin, compromising four Gospels of the New Testament together with various texts and imageries. The manuscript was born in a Columban monastery of which the exact location was speculated in either Britain or Ireland, or contributions from Columban institutions from both countries. It is said that the manuscript was created c. 800. The text of the four Gospels is based from the Latin translation of the Bible (Vulgate), yet also includes passages from the version before the Vulgate (Vetus Latina). Western calligraphy in the Book of Kells represents the pinnacle of Insular illumination, and regarded as Ireland’s finest national

The transfiguration is both a historical and symbolic narrative that is composed in prose and is descriptive in its movement. The Gospel of Mark, according to Marcus, is an entirely new and unique genre of literature; it is a euangelion or “good news” which is a blend of drama, biography, and biblical history. In this text, the structure is symmetrical in composition and arranged in a chiastic pattern:

7-8), and his central images, the "rocking cradle" of Christ (ln. 20) to the "rough beast" (ln. 21).