View source for Gospel Book

{{Short description|Codex containing one or more of the Gospels}}
{{distinguish|Evangeliary}}
{{for|individual books}}
[[Image:KellsFol292rIncipJohn.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Book of Kells]], c. 800, an [[illuminated manuscript]] showing the lavishly decorated text that opens the [[Gospel of John]].]]
A '''Gospel Book''', '''Evangelion''', or '''Book of the Gospels''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: {{lang|grc|Εὐαγγέλιον}}, {{lang|grc-latn|Evangélion}}) is a [[codex]] or bound volume containing one or more of the four [[Gospel]]s of the [[Christianity|Christian]] [[New Testament]] – normally all four – centering on the life of [[Jesus of Nazareth]] and the roots of the Christian faith. The term is also used for a [[liturgical book]], also called the [[Evangeliary]], from which are read the portions of the Gospels used in the Mass and other services, arranged according to the order of the [[liturgical calendar]].<ref name=GIRM />

Liturgical use in churches of a distinct Gospel book remains normal, often compulsory, in [[Eastern Christianity]], and very common in [[Roman Catholicism]] and some parts of [[Anglicanism]] and [[Lutheranism]].

==History==
[[Image:LorschGospelsFolio72vChristInMajesty.jpg|thumb|left|Folio 72 verso of the ''[[Codex Aureus of Lorsch]]''. [[Christ Pantocrator|Christ in Majesty]]]]

In the [[Middle Ages]], the production of copies of the [[Bible]] in its entirety was rare because of the huge expense of the [[parchment]] required.  Individual books or collections of books were produced for specific purposes.  From the 4th century Gospel Books were produced for liturgical use, as well as private study and as "display books" for ceremonial and ornamental purposes.<ref>Calkins, 31</ref> The [[Codex Washingtonianus]] (Freer gospels) is an early example of a book containing only the four gospels, in Greek, written in the 4th or 5th century.  By the 7th century particular gospel texts were allocated to days in the [[liturgical calendar]]; previously gospel readings had often worked through the books in sequence.<ref>Calkins, 18-19</ref>  Many of these volumes were elaborate; the Gospel Book was the most common form of heavily [[illuminated manuscript]] until about the 11th century, when the Romanesque Bible and [[Psalter]] largely superseded it in the West. In the East they remained a significant subject for illumination until the arrival of printing.  The [[Evangelist portrait]] was a particular feature of their decoration.<ref>Calkins, 23-29, and chapters 1 and 3</ref> Most of the masterpieces of both [[Insular art|Insular]] and [[Ottonian art|Ottonian]] illumination are Gospel Books.<ref>Calkins, chapters 1 and 3 deals with these in turn</ref>

But most Gospel Books were never illuminated at all, or only with decorated [[initial]]s and other touches.  They often contained, in addition to the text of the Gospels themselves, supporting texts including [[Canon Tables]], summaries, glossaries, and other explanatory material.  Latin books often include the [[Letter of Jerome to Pope Damasus]] where [[Jerome]] set out to the Pope the reasoning behind his new [[Vulgate]] translation and arrangement of the texts, and many Greek ones the [[Epistula ad Carpianum]] (Letter to Carpian) of [[Eusebius of Caesarea]] explaining the [[Eusebian Canons]] he had devised.<ref>Calkins, 25</ref>

Luxuriously illuminated gospel books were mainly a feature of the [[Early Middle Ages]], as the evangeliary or a general [[lectionary]] gradually became more common for liturgical use, and other texts became most favoured for elaborate decoration.<ref>Calkins, 148-150</ref>

==Western use==
===Roman Catholicism===
[[File:FatherBrian01.jpg|thumb| 2008 [[Midnight Mass]] at The Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle in [[Jackson, MS]]]]
In current [[Roman Catholic]] usage, the Book of the Gospels or [[Evangeliary]]<ref name=GIRM>{{cite web|title=General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 44|url=http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/GIRM/Documents/GIRM.pdf|website=Catholic Bishops' Conference of England & Wales|publisher=[[Catholic Truth Society]]|quote=Among gestures included are also actions and processions: of the priest going with the deacon and ministers to the altar; of the deacon carrying the ''Evangeliary'' or ''Book of the Gospels'' to the ambo before the proclamation of the Gospel ... |access-date=2 February 2015}}</ref> contains the full text of the passages from all four [[gospel]]s that the [[deacon]] or [[priest]] is to read or chant at [[Mass (Catholic Church)|Mass]] in the course of the [[liturgical year]]. However, use of the Book of the Gospels is not mandatory, and the gospel readings are also included in the standard [[Lectionary]].<ref>Deiss, 36-37</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/2/SubIndex/11/ContentIndex/527/Start/524 |title="The Proclamation of the Gospel at Mass" (''The Catholic Liturgical Library'') |access-date=2015-02-02 |archive-date=2018-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418192930/http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/2/SubIndex/11/ContentIndex/527/Start/524 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Book of the Gospels, if used, is brought to the altar in the entrance procession, while the Lectionary may not be.<ref>General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 120</ref> When carried in procession, the Book of the Gospels is held slightly elevated, though not over the head. It is particularly proper for the deacon to carry the Book of the Gospels in procession, as the reading of the gospel is his particular province. When there is no deacon, the Book may be carried by a [[lector]].<ref>Deiss, 38-39</ref> Upon reaching the [[altar]], the deacon or lector bows in veneration of the altar, then places the Book upon the altar, where it remains until the [[Alleluia]].<ref>Commentary, 128</ref>

During the singing of the Alleluia, the deacon (who before proclaiming the gospel receives the presiding priest's blessing), or in his absence, a priest, removes the Book from the altar and processes with it to the [[Ambon (liturgy)|ambo]]. If [[incense]] is used, the Book of the Gospels is [[thurible|censed]] by the deacon before the reading or chanting. An [[altar server]] or [[acolyte]] will swing the censer slowly during the reading or chanting.<ref>[http://paulturner.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/deacon-digest-gospel-book.pdf Paul Turner, "The Book of the Gospels"]</ref> The Book of the Gospels remains on the ambo until the Mass concludes, unless it is taken to a bishop to be kissed, after which it may be placed on the credence table or another appropriate and dignified place.<ref>[http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/a-place-for-the-book-of-the-gospels Edward McNamara, "A Place for the Book of the Gospels"]</ref>

===Lutheranism===
In the [[Lutheranism|Lutheran Churches]], the Book of the Gospels is "carried in procession".<ref name="Eckardt2017">{{cite web |last1=Eckardt |first1=Burnell |last2=Frahm |first2=John A. |title=Give Attention to the Public Reading of Scripture: I Timothy 4:13: Lectors, Pastoral Stewardship, and Gender Considerations |url=https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/2017/07/give-attention-to-public-reading-of.html |publisher=Gottesdienst: The Journal of Lutheran Liturgy |access-date=8 October 2023 |date=6 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="BoxallGregory2022">{{cite book |last1=Boxall |first1=Ian |last2=Gregory |first2=Bradley C. |title=The New Cambridge Companion to Biblical Interpretation |date=22 December 2022 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-108-49092-4 |page=358 |language=en}}</ref> 

===Anglicanism===
[[File:The Gospel Book.JPG|right|thumb|The Gospel Book at [[St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Kansas City, Missouri)|St. Mary's Episcopal Church]].]]
In the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church]] in the United States, the practice of using a Gospel Book was recovered with the [[Book of Common Prayer|1979 ''Book of Common Prayer'']], which suggests that the lessons and gospel "be read from a book or books of appropriate size and dignity".<ref>1979 US [[Book of Common Prayer]], p.&nbsp;406</ref>

==Eastern use==
[[Image:Gorskii 03989u.jpg|thumb|250px|Jewelled and enamelled Gospel book belonging to [[Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich]] (Trinity Monastery, [[Alexandrov (town)|Aleksandrov]]).]]{{Empty section|date=February 2023}}[[File:Dues2Sept21 2009.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Reading the Gospel during the Divine Liturgy.]]{{Clear}}

==Significant gospel books==
[[Image:RossanoGospelsChristBeforePilate.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Illuminated manuscript|Illuminated]] page from the 6th century [[Rossano Gospels]], one of the oldest extant Gospel Books.]]
See also the categories at bottom.
*[[Rossano Gospels]]
*[[Rabula Gospels]]
*[[Book of Mulling|Mulling Gospels]]
*[[Book of Durrow]]
*[[Domnach Airgid]]
*[[Echternach Gospels]]
*[[St. Augustine Gospels]]
* Stonyhurst or [[St Cuthbert Gospel]] (St John only)
*[[Durham Gospels]]
*[[Lindisfarne Gospels]]
*[[Lichfield Gospels]] (also known as the St. Chad Gospels)
*[[Leningrad Gospels]]
*[[Book of Kells]]
*[[Barberini Gospels]]
*[[Vienna Coronation Gospels]]
*[[Aachen Gospels (Ada School)|Aachen Coronation Gospels]]
*[[Ada Gospels]]
*[[Ebbo Gospels]]
*[[Codex Aureus of St. Emmeram]]
*[[Lorsch Gospels]]
*[[Codex Aureus of Echternach]]
*[[Emperor's Bible]]
*[[Gospels of Henry the Lion]]
*[[Miroslav Gospels]]
*[[Gospels of Tsar Ivan Alexander]]
*[[Peresopnytsia Gospels]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
*Calkins, Robert G. ''Illuminated Books of the Middle Ages''. 1983, Cornell University Press, {{ISBN|0500233756}}
*"Commentary", Edward Foley, John Francis Baldovin, Mary Collins, Joanne M. Pierce, eds., ''A Commentary on the Order of Mass of the Roman Missal'', 2011, Liturgical Press, 2011, {{ISBN|0814662471}}, 9780814662472
*[[Lucien Deiss|Deiss, Lucien]], ''The Mass'', 1992, Liturgical Press, {{ISBN|0814620582}}, 9780814620588
*Otto Pächt, ''Book Illumination in the Middle Ages'' (trans fr German), 1986, Harvey Miller Publishers, London, {{ISBN|0199210608}}
*Palazzo,Eric, ''A History of Liturgical Books from the Beginning to the Thirteenth Century'', 1998, Liturgical Press, {{ISBN|081466167X}}, 9780814661673,  [https://books.google.com/books?id=EDYts-KZe2MC&pg=PA91&lpg=PA91 google books]

==External links==
{{commons category|Gospel Books}}
*[http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/gospels/ Getty Museum feature on gospel books], and [http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/gospel_illuminations/ another]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120206012739/http://en.liturgy.ru/photo/evang.htm Photo of Orthodox deacon holding Gospel Book]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070507013618/http://en.liturgy.ru/photo/ryba.htm Photo of Paschal Liturgy] (the Gospel Book can be seen lying on the [[Epitaphios (liturgical)|Epitaphios]])
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185156/http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/pictures/2jvanaf_16.jpg Reading the Gospel] at [[All-Night Vigil]] 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070507014126/http://en.liturgy.ru/photo/f20.htm Photo of Confession]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071007142240/http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/eng2006/images/sfsun49.jpg Photo of Gospel Book enthroned at council]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160517202750/http://en.liturgy.ru/photo/popy.htm Photo of deacon reading the Gospel]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070415085910/http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/cgi-bin/photo.pl?path=Holy_Relics%2FSt._John_Maximovitch&file=2.jpg Funeral of an Orthodox Bishop] (St. John Maximovitch) showing Gospel Book in coffin
*[http://www.alexanderpalace.org/jewels/gospel.html Jewelled Gospel book-Romanov collection] at the [[Alexander Palace]]

{{Eastern Orthodox liturgical books}}
{{Sacraments, rites, and liturgies of the Catholic Church}}
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[[Category:Types of illuminated manuscript]]
[[Category:Gospel Books| ]]
[[Category:Christian religious objects]]
[[Category:Eastern Orthodox liturgical books]]
[[Category:Eastern Christian liturgical objects]]