The Timeline
1970-1984
Donald Jackson expresses in media interviews his lifetime dream of creating an illuminated Bible.
1995
Following a Saint John's sponsored calligraphy presentation at the Newberry Library in Chicago, Jackson discusses a handwritten Bible with Fr. Eric Hollas, OSB, Director of the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library at Saint John's University.
1996-1997
Saint John's explores the feasibility of the Bible project, Jackson creates first samples and theologians develop illumination schema.
1998-1999
The Saint John's Bible is officially commissioned, funding opportunities are launched and the public is introduced to the project.
2000
On March 8, Ash Wednesday, the first words of The Saint John's Bible are penned on vellum by Donald Jackson. The verses, from the gospel of John, mark the beginning of this monumental project. Thus the first verses are "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, the Word was God..."
2001
On April 20, in a special ceremony, the first completed volume of The Saint John's Bible, Gospel and Acts, is revealed to the public.
2003
In August Donald Jackson arrives to present the second completed volume, the Pentateuch. The Pentateuch is comprised of the first five books of the Old Testament and features illuminations of Creation, the Ten Commandments, and the Death of Moses.
2004
On April 22, Donald Jackson presents the completed Book of Psalms at a press conference at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. This marks the third completed volume.
On May 26 a delegation from Saint John's Abbey and University travels to Rome. Donald Jackson, Abbot John Klassen, OSB, and Saint John's University President Br. Dietrich Reinhart, OSB present the Bible to the Pope.
2005
Saint John's Abbey and University received Prophets, the fourth volume of The Saint John's Bible. The reception coincided with the debut of the national and international tour at The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, April 9th - July 3rd. The touring exhibition features pages from Gospels and Acts, Psalms, and Pentateuch.
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