Congress-goers rushing through the Anaheim Convention Center's grand lobby during the 2006 Religious Education Congress may be inspired to slow down in more ways than one to contemplate framed reproductions of Saint John's Bible, the first handwritten, illuminated Bible to be commissioned in 500 years.

The traveling exhibition and two full-size reproduction books will showcase the Bible's exquisite calligraphy and artwork commissioned by Saint John's Abbey and University in Minnesota to ignite the spiritual imagination of believers living in the 21st century.

Among the prints on display will be the "frontispiece" (opening illuminated page) of each of the four Gospels, as well as pages featuring images of creation, the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve and The Ten Commandments.

A team of 14 calligraphers and artists, including illuminator Thomas Ingmire of San Francisco, has been working on the Saint John's Bible since 1998 under the direction of renowned Welsh calligrapher Donald Jackson. The seven-volume Bible, expected to be completed in 2007, is written on vellum (calfskin) with quills and gold leaf. Though created with ancient handwriting techniques, the Bible incorporates modern themes and religious images from both Eastern and Western traditions.

Contemporary aspects reference science, technology and the universe such as images of outer space and DNA strands. Human figures, often dressed in modern clothing, reflect a multicultural, interreligious world.

"The Bible takes your breath away. Its new visual translation helps people to see scripture. Everyone who views it comes away almost speechless," said Tim Ternes, director of programs and outreach for Saint John's University's Hill Museum and Manuscript Library.

According to Ternes, even people who've heard about the Bible have no sense of its impact until they view it. "This Bible allows you to see the text in a new way. It's not like reading an e-mail; the beautiful script slows you down," said Ternes. He noted viewers of the Saint John's Bible often come away with a desire to handwrite passages of scripture for themselves as a meditation practice.

The translation used in the Saint John's Bible is the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). The NRSV is a modern English translation with a strong literal tradition that employs gender-inclusive language for references to men and women. Its predecessor, the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, had the distinction of being officially authorized for use by all major Christian churches: Protestant, Anglican, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox.

Gospels and Acts of the Apostles was the first volume of The Saint John's Bible to be completed in May 2002. Pentateuch was completed in 2003 and the Book of Psalms was completed in 2004. Other volumes in various stages of completion include Prophets, Wisdom Books and Poetry, Historical Books and Letters and the Book of Revelation.

Once the completed volumes are bound, the Bible will be used by Saint John's Abbey and University for liturgical purposes and as a source for religious, artistic, educational and scholarly programming and exhibitions. Currently, simultaneous exhibits of completed original pages are being held at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska and The Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England until April 16 of this year.