Leabhar Cheanannais

Leabhar Cheanannais - richly illustrated manuscripts, created by the Irish (Celtic) monks in about 800 year. This is one of the most lavishly decorated with exquisite miniatures and ornaments of medieval manuscripts to all come down to us. Due to the excellent technique and beautiful patterns, many researchers regarded it as the most significant works of medieval Irish art. The book contains the four Gospels in Latin, introduction and interpretation, decorated with a huge number of color patterns, and miniatures.

According to the basic version of its origin, the book was created in the monastery. Columbus on the island of Iona in the late VIII - the beginning of IX century. After the monastery was defeated Norman, the book was moved fleeing monks in Ireland, in Keelson abbey, where the book got its name.

Kells book - is the summit of skill in the creation of manuscripts from the end of VI and the beginning of IX century in the monasteries of Ireland, Scotland and northern England, as well as based originally from Ireland and England, the monasteries on the continent. Of the remaining from the time manuscripts «illuminated Gospels» are the «The Life of St. Columbus» (Cathach of St. Columba), Ambrosiana Orosius, a fragment of the Gospel of the cathedral library Durhema (all - the beginning of VII century), Book of Durrow - second half VII century. From the book, created at the beginning of VIII century, survived the Durham Gospels, the Echternach Gospels, the Lindisfarne Gospels, and the Lichfield Gospels. The St. Gall Gospel Book and Macregal Gospels were created at the end of VIII century. At the beginning of IX century were set up Book of Armagh (dated to 807-809), Turin Gospel Book Fragment, Leiden Priscian, St. Gall Priscian and Macdurnan Gospel. These manuscripts have common features, allowing researchers to include them in the same tradition.

The book is kept in Kells Abbey for nearly all of the Middle Ages. This monastery was founded in the town of Kells (County Meath, Ireland) at the beginning of the ninth century, during the constant invasions of Vikings, monks from the monastery in the island of Iona off the coast of Scotland. After the island of Iona has become too dangerous for life because of the Viking raids, the majority of the monks moved in Kellskoe abbey, which was then the center of the monastic community, founded St. Columb.

The date and place of creation manuscript Fierce disputes. Tradition ascribed the creation of the Holy Book itself. Columbus, but palaeographic research overshadowed the creation of this book in a little later date, around 800 th year.

There are at least five different theories about the place of manuscript. According to one of them, the book was created in the monastery of St. skriptorii. Columbus on the island of Iona, and transferred to the abbey Kellskoe this, not until the end of a completed form. For the second version, the book was launched at Jonah, and then work on it was continued in Kellskom Abbey. A third version, the book was entirely created in skriptorii Kellskogo Abbey. According to the fourth version, the book was set up in the north of England, possibly in Lindisfarne, and then moved to Jonah, and then - in Kellskoe Abbey. And finally, the book could be set up in an unknown monastery in Scotland. Perhaps the exact location never to be installed, but currently the most widely accepted is the second version - the book was launched at about. Jonah and Abbey continue Kellskom. In any event, the book was produced by monks belonging to the society, founded by Columbus.