Treasures from the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana – Biblica

Treasures from the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana – Biblica

The Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, one of the most important libraries in all the world, is famous above all for its collection of Bibles and biblical manuscripts. Among them are true book treasures, not only for the theologically and academically interested, but also for the art historically interested collector. The selection of 12 pages of the most beautiful examples of the collection amaze some through their historical relevance, to others they offer the eye of the beholder a luscious treat.

Bible Treasures from the 3rd to the 15th Centuries

The Renaissance Bible of Niccolò d`Este, with its opulent adornment and remarkable miniatures, is exemplary of the pomp and magnificence of 15th century biblical manuscripts. Nevertheless, it represents a rare exception: the biblical text was not written down in Latin, but rather in vernacular that was comprehensible to all. This makes the Bible a unicum that is worthy of a selection of the most important manuscripts of the papal collections. The rest of the 12-page compendium is equally exquisite. Among them is a early Christian papyrus with the earliest transmission of the Letters of Peter from the 3rd century. Others include a page from the Lorsch Gospels, a magnificent 9th century manuscript from the Court School of Charlemagne. Additionally selected are a page from an 8th century English manuscript, an initial page from a 9th century North French evangeliary, and a depiction of the enthroned ruler from the Evangeliary of Henry II (11th century). The selected pages come from a span of time encompassing twelve centuries. In total, the collection includes biblical manuscripts from the widest variety of cultural milieus, so also from the Byzantine, Coptic, Arabic, and Hebraic range, from Cairo, Constantinople, or Nineveh (in the Syrian language). The juxtaposition of the most diverse cultural styles and various languages allows various developments to be comprehended. The rich ornamental and artistic layout (sometimes also with gold, naturally) continuously offers the eye of the beholder a reason for closer immersion.

The Most Important Bible Collection in the World

This selection of twelve pages from biblical manuscripts of 9 different centuries offers an exemplary overview of the rich collection of book treasures from the Vatican library. This important and comprehensive Bible collection can naturally only be represented in bullet-point form. Already in the Middle Ages, before the actual founding of the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana by Pope Nicholas V in the 15th century, the papal Bible collection was of great significance. The over 80,000 manuscripts offer a gapless overview of the history of the Holy Scriptures and their various transmissions from the beginning up to this day. As a research institute, the Vatican Bible collection is still open to academics to this day, who occupy themselves with the unique inventories and continuously bring new treasures to light. With the twelves selected pages of the compendium, it offers the opportunity to exemplarily study the most noteworthy of these treasures and to come to grips with the Holy Scriptures in a new way.