Illuminated Bibles and colorful journals have become popular as a new generation is discovering creative ways to engage with the Bible. But did you know that in the Middle Ages illuminated Bibles were handwritten and embellished by scribes and artists who labored for years on a single manuscript?
One of the most beautiful examples of illuminated Bibles is on display at Museum of the Bible—the Book of Hours and Psalter of Elizabeth de Bohun, the great-grandmother of King Henry V of England. It contains the book of Psalms and organized prayers and readings from the Bible to be read at certain hours of the day. Illuminated books of hours became a way for ordinary people to imitate the spiritual practices of monks and nuns praying and reading the Bible.
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