From Jerome to the Book of Kells

From Jerome to the Book of Kells The illuminated gospels

Jerome’s translation quickly became the ‘Vulgate’, which means ‘Common’ version. The canonical order of Matthew– Mark–Luke–John applied to Ezekiel’s sequence was fairly standard and the four symbols can be found in frescoes, mosaics, pulpits, crosses and so forth from the fourth century onwards. Christianity arrived in Britain by about AD 200; rooms in Roman villas were turned into Christian chapels, and British bishops took part in the great Councils of the church. The faith spread through the Province and beyond through the ministry of great saints like David and Patrick. After the departure of the Roman legions around AD 410, the Christian churches continued independently, especially in Ireland, Scotland and northern England, giving rise to the Celtic Christian tradition…