Evangeliaries

An evangeliary was a book of only those portions of the Gospel, Acts of the Apostles, and Old Testament texts that would be read at a Mass on a particular Sunday or a Holy Day. These books were extremely ornate, using rich colors, gold bindings, artful calligraphy, and highly emblematic covers. Among those emblems were, not surprisingly, drawings of the four evangelists whose Gospels were to be read, cathedrals, crosses and Marian symbols, and even portraits of princes who sponsored and donated these beautiful books. The practice of preparing these books dates back to the fourth century and reached its artistic peak in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. These holy books of the Gospels inspired this present book of poems, each of which is anchored in or alludes to a Biblical image, figure, parable, place, or trope.