St. Cuthbert's Orthodox Church
ROCOR Western Rite
Pawtucket, RI

Front cover
Front cover
Front cover
Text page
Text page
Text page
The St. Cuthbert Gospel

The St. Cuthbert Gospel (formerly known as the Stonyhurst Gospel) is the oldest intact European book.  Made in the late 7th cent., the manuscript contains the Gospel of St. John, and was apparently placed in the coffin of St. Cuthbert when he was re-interred at Lindisfarne in 698.  St. Cuthbert's coffin was subsequently translated to Durham Catherdral, where it was opened in September, 1104, and the Gospel book was discovered lying by his head.

The Gospel was preserved as a precious relic in Durham Cathedral until the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII.  After passing through several hands, it came to rest in the library of Stonyhurst College in England (hence the name "Stonyhurst Gospel").  It has recently been purchased by the British nation and is on display in the British Library.  It can be viewed page by page at the British Library Website.