Initial H with St. John the Evangelist This initial begins the Gospel of John, with the words 'In principio erat verbum ...' (In the beginning was the word). The animated figures filling the shaft of the letter I are typical expressions of the Italian decorative imagination. The eagle, which symbolizes John, turns his head down toward the Evangelist, standing below and gesturing upwards toward his own divinely inspired words. A... This initial from a leaf taken from a bible begins the Prologue to the Gospel of John. Initial D This initial begins the first response of the first nocturn of Matins for the feast of St. Agnes (Jan. 21), 'Diem festum sacritissime virginis celebremus ...' (Let us celebrate the feast of a most saintly Virgin). This initial begins the first response of the first nocturn of Matins for Thursdays in the Ferial Office, 'Deus in te speravi. ...' (In thee, O Lord, have I hoped). Initial E This initial begins the first response for the first nocturn of Matins for the first Sunday in Lent. The response begins 'Ecce nunc tempus acceptabile ...' (Behold, now is the acceptable time). This initial begins the first response for the first nocturn of Matins for the third Sunday in Advent, 'Ecce apparebit Dominus super nubem candidam ...' (Behold, the Lord shall appear on a white cloud). Initial S This initial begins the first response of the first nocturn for Matins for the feast of St. Vincent (Jan. 22), 'Sacram praesentis diei solempnitatem humili celebremus ...' (We celebrate with humility the sacred solemnity of the present day). This image shows the reverse of a leaf with a decorated initial taken from an antiphonary. It contains some of the antiphons for the first nocturn of Matins for the feast of St. Agnes (Jan. 21). This image shows the reverse of a leaf with a decorated initial taken from an antiphonary. It contains some of the antiphons for the first nocturn of Matins for Thursdays in the Ferial Office. This image shows the reverse of a leaf with a decorated initial from an antiphonary. It contains the second and third responses for the first nocturn of Matins for the first Sunday in Lent. This image shows the reverse of a leaf with a decorated initial from an antiphonary. It contains the invitatory and antiphons for the first nocturn of Matins for the third Sunday in Advent. This image shows the reverse of a leaf with a decorated initial from an antiphonary. It contains the invitatory and antiphons of the first nocturn for Matins for the feast of St. Vincent (Jan. 22). Lewis E M 48:10a-e are from the same manuscript. These cuttings can be dated to the 14th or 15th centuries. Script: Rotunda
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