The book of kells letter chi rho seite

Made in 800ad by the monks belonging to the columban movement, it is probably irelands greatest national treasure. In insular gospel books, at the end of the genealogy of christ in matthew 1. The completed work was published in 1990 in a twovolume set containing the full facsimile and scholarly commentary. One of the most sublime examples of medieval painting ever seen, the monogram chi rho page is the most important page in the late 8thcentury book of kells, arguably the finest of all illuminated manuscripts of the middle ages and famous for the intricate swirling patterns of its celtic art. This page has become known as the chi rho monogram page. These letters are further decorated by the inclusion of men, animals and geometric shapes that are designed to act together with the. The book of kells conceals the opening words to each gospel behind highly abstract, brightly coloured, interlocking letters. I first block out the large silhouettes of the letters basted on the chi rho. The letters chi, rho and i are an abbreviation of christ.

Sequential xps in the carolingian godescalc evangelistary. Iona, scotland, late eighth or early ninth century. The book of kells is often called the most beautiful book in the world. When it is the most beautiful page of the most beautiful book in history, i think so. First, i should indicate that the book of kells is also called the book of columba, which presupposes that there was a columba columba means dove, and there was a st columba 7 december 521 9 june 597. The chi rho monogram from the book of kells elixir of. In the book of kells, the chi rho monogram has grown to consume the entire page. These three letters are used as the abbreviated form of christs name in greek, and open that passage from matthew in latin. Throughout the book of kells, there are very few names that are abbreviated. One of the most remarkable of pages is the chi rho page, the page that has the letters chi, rho and iota depicted in such a sublime and lyrical manner. The letter rho is snuggled underneath the arms of the chi. The chi rho page in the book of kells is perhaps the most elaborate and enigmatic illumination in the manuscript. The kells initial also contains the third letter of christ s name, iota i. Gaze upon any page in the 9th century illuminated manuscript, the book of kells, and you will be mesmerized and amazed.

The page precedes the nativity story as related by st matthew. The most splendid page of the book of kells is the chi rho. The book of kells chi rho page the chi rho illustration page is elaborately decorated with swirling knotwork, and within this lavish decoration there are hidden animals and insects, as well as three angels. The book of kells seldom comes to view in the historical record. The illumination above shows the symbol for the word christ. Chirho and alpha and omega on a modern catholic altar.

Book of kells exhibit book of kells, ireland, chi rho. Dear readers, i am forwarding a little more information on the book of kells. The letters xpi are the greek abbreviation for the word christi or christ. It was created in a columban monastery in either britain or ireland and may have had. The greek letters chi and rho were often used in medieval manuscripts to abbreviate the word christ. Its fame rests not on the text the vulgate version of the gospels but from its absolutely.

And look through the whole book online here from the trinity college dublin. Personally, i think handlettering has slowly degraded since then and we are wowed way too easily with what artists and designers are producing today. As part of our discussion of the book of kells, we will contemplate the famous chi rho page from the book of kells. These two greek letter x p attached to the latin text are a conventional abbreviation of christs name, here appearing at the start of the christmas story in the gospel of saint matthew. Its a copy of the four gospels in latin with beautiful, intricate illuminations. See more ideas about book of kells, chi rho and celtic. The page is rich in multilayered symbolism intended to engage its monastic audience with a range of eucharistic and christological themes. The book of kells glory of glories the most famous page is known as chi rho, which are the first letters of the word christ. A chi rho is formed by overlapping the first two letters of the greek word for christ.

Chi is written as an x while rho is roughly written as a p. Looking at this page it has many different colors and detailed line work. The chi rho monogram from the book of kells rajkumar r. The letter chi dominates the page with one arm swooping across the.

Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Illuminated letters, enlarged as a visual aid, were a unique feature of medieval art. They were used universally as a shorthand for writing christ s name, and the abbreviation is used throughout the book of kells. The chi rho monogram from the book of kells rajkumar r medium. Kells, book of illuminated depiction of the first two letters of christs name in greek, chi and rho. I published three books on genesis from the sayings of the holy fathers concerning the letter and the spirit. Perhaps it was due to prolonged sessions of staring at the book of kells, but the. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels, created around 800 a. In insular books whatever symbolic importance the xp i incipit may have had seems to have been concentrated in the first letter. Medieval monks spent years copying elaborate manuscripts if you are an artist and you gripe about xmas one more time. This page occurs in many other insular manuscripts, but they cannot compare to the intricate decoration of the book of kells. Strictly speaking, rather than the book of kells, named after a town in county meath, it should be called the book of iona, as its thought that it was monks on that remote scottish island who were the original artists. Lets look at how the monkartists of the book of kells beautifully illuminated the pivotal moment in history when god took on human flesh and came to earth to dwell.

First thing that you would notice while examining closer would be the large symbol in the center that nearly covers the whole page. Chi rho iota page from the book of kells early medieval. The book of kells also known as the book of columba is one of the great masterpieces of irish christian culture. A masterpiece of medieval calligraphy and artistry, the book of kells is an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels of. Chi and rho are two letters from the greek alphabet, chi gives the ch. Kellsfol285runaautem book of kells wikimedia commons. Folio 34r of the book of kells is the chi rho page, expanding the first two letters of the word christ. The book of kells, chirho or incarnation page kathy. The chirho page consists of the greek letters chi and rho that were used in medieval times to abbreviate the word christ. Chi rho iota page, folio 34 recto of the book of kells. In greek, the letters chi, rho and iota xpi are the initials of christ.

It has survived long enough for the to expire and the book to enter the public domain. For this reason it is called the incarnation page, and on it the monks used a traditional symbol for the word christthe first two letters of christ in greek chi rho or xp. The initial chi in kells dramatically fills up more than half the page, leaping like a giant acrobat over the small upright rho and iota below. The kells initial also contains the third letter of christs name, iota i. View image of the most famous page is known as chi rho credit. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript, sometimes known as the book of columba, held in the trinity college library, dublin. Chi rho iota page from the book of kells, matthew illuminated manuscripts brought medieval art out of the dark ages the book of kells, one of great treasures of medieval europe, is an illuminated manuscript containing four gospels. The chi rho page in the book of kells is perhaps the most elaborate. The book was created about 800 by irish monks in the monastery of iona, off the western coast of scotland.

With quills and ink of iron gall on folded vellum, monks in their cells labored in hives of stone. And go watch the secret of kells on netflix if you really want to nerdout. The book of kells is a masterwork of western calligraphy. The word made flesh click here for a smaller 72 dpi image. Currently the book of kells is housed at trinity college in dublin ireland and seen by half a million visitors a year. One copy is held by the anglican church in kells, on the site of the original monastery. The chi rho iota xpi page of the hibernosaxon book of kells is astonishingly complex, filled with twisting lines and curling spirals similar to the intricate metalwork found with the sutton hoo ship, yet this page proclaims, now this is how the birth of christ came about as it introduces the gospel of matthew. The letter chi dominates the page with one arm swooping across the majority of the page. The letters that look like xpi that form the primary page elements are respectively, the chi, the rho, and the iota. Chi and rho are the first two letters of the word christ in greek. The annals of ulster, describing it as the chief treasure of the western world, record that it was stolen in 1006 for its ornamental cumdach shrine. You can view an online photo of the colored chi rho at. The letter chi is very large, followed by a smaller rho looks like the letter p, and this is entwined with the letter i.

Soerfm public domain and the whole of the book of kells was surely a product of much hard labor, dedication, and tedious transcription that was done by the monks. It was created in a columban monastery in ireland, c. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin. Most historians date its creation to the late 8th century or so. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript gospel book in latin, containing the four gospels of the new testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. The book of kells was probably made at the monastery of iona at the end of the eighth century. The greatest achievement of hibernosaxon art is the book of kells, which boasts an unprecedented number of fullpage illuminations, including carpet pages, evangelist symbols, portrayals of the virgin mary and of christ, new testament narrative scenes, canon tables, and several. Jan 16, 2019 kellsfol285runaautem book of kells wikimedia commons.