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The Rossano Gospels , designated by 042 or Σ (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), ε 18 ( Soden ), held at the cathedral of Rossano in Italy , is a 6th-century illuminated manuscript Gospel Book written following the reconquest of the Italian peninsula by the Byzantine Empire . Also known as Codex purpureus Rossanensis due to the reddish-purple ( purpureus in Latin ) appearance of its pages, the codex is one of the oldest surviving illuminated manuscripts of the New Testament . The manuscript is famous for its prefatory cycle of miniatures of subjects from the Life of Christ , arranged in two tiers on the page, sometimes with small Old Testament prophet portraits below, prefiguring and pointing up to events described in the New Testament scene above.

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41-687: The manuscript is dated by the INTF to the 6th century. The codex was discovered in 1879 in the sacristy of Rossano Cathedral by Oskar von Gebhardt and Adolf Harnack . On 9 October 2015 in Abu Dhabi , the international UNESCO Committee, inscribed the Codex Purpureus Rossanensis in its register of the memory of the world . Discovered in 1846 in Rossano Cathedral , the Rossano Gospels

82-573: A professor at the University of Münster , Germany. In 1960 he declined the offer for a professorship at the University of Chicago . In Münster he founded the Institute for New Testament Textual Research ("Institut für neutestamentliche Textforschung") in 1959, which he directed until 1983. Furthermore, he founded the world's first " Bible Museum " in 1979, which was unique in the world for many years. His institute achieved worldwide recognition by publishing

123-401: A semi-circle. Below that, separated by a ground line, are Jesus and several other figures that are supposed to be standing in front of Pilate. If someone were to draw a line around the whole image, it would form the shape of an arch. A model of an apse shows how easily the miniature could fit into the shape, and how likely it was that it is a direct copy of the apse of some structure. In many of

164-406: Is devoid of all but the simplest details. Even the top of the arch with its seashell-like pattern is rigid and sharp, which further proves the theory that the miniatures on the pages of this Gospels were derived from existing structures. Other significant images include Jesus giving the last supper to his disciples and of Jesus washing Peter's feet. Jesus and the disciple on the right end of

205-606: Is lying?), written against Mathilde Ludendorff , he confirmed the position of the Confessing Church and identified with them. In 1939, he studied for his bachelor's degree under the guidance of Hans Lietzmann . In 1940, he was released from military service; and, in 1941, after Lietzmann's death, he took over the responsibilities of editing the Theologische Literaturzeitung (the only German theological magazine at that time). He graduated that same year, and in 1944

246-623: Is no longer used in Christian ceremonies , this particular Gospels are important for dissecting art and symbolism, and researching the pages sheds light on early Christian beliefs. Presenting nearly all of its miniatures in an architecture-like setting, the Rossano Gospels is one of the few illuminated manuscripts that perfectly fits with its definitions. It helps the reader take a spiritual insight into history, politics, religion, and people, and using bright colors on purple vellum with gold and silver lettering, and brightly-painted illustrations. Due to

287-505: Is the focal point, interpolated with the fate of Judas (27:3-5). The second event of the trial, the choice between Christ and Barabbas (Luke 23:18 or Matt 27:21), has an interluding scene featuring Herod (Luke 23:6-12). The third act of trial is the Washing of Pilate's Hands (Matt 27:23-25) with the interlude of the Message of Pilate's Wife (Matt.27:19). In the illustration of Saint Mark writing

328-449: Is the moment selected for the representation. In the first scene, this is the beginning of the trial when Christ is led to Pilate by the high priests , one of whom supports the charges. The second scene represents the choice between Christ and Barabbas offered by Pilate to the Jews . These two scenes show that the formal opening of the trial and the central moment of it when the critical issue

369-723: Is the oldest extant illuminated manuscript of the New Testament Gospels . The exact time and place of its creation are still uncertain. The manuscript is dated by the INTF to the sixth century. The Gospels were written after the Ostrogoths of the Byzantine Empire recaptured the Italian peninsula after the war (from 535 to 553). The codex was discovered in 1879 in the sacristy of Rossano Cathedral by Oskar von Gebhardt and Adolf Harnack . On October 9, 2015, in Abu Dhabi ,

410-570: The Novum Testamentum Graece . Minuscules: 676 , 798 , 1432 , 2444 , 2445 , 2446 , 2460 , 2754 , 2755 , 2756 , 2793 ; Lectionaries: ℓ 1681 , ℓ 1682 , ℓ 1683 , ℓ 1684 (lower script Uncial 0233 ), ℓ 1685 , ℓ 1686 , ℓ 2005 , ℓ 2137 , ℓ 2208 , and ℓ 2276 . 51°57′40″N 7°37′25″E  /  51.96111°N 7.62361°E  / 51.96111; 7.62361 Kurt Aland Kurt Aland FBA (28 March 1915 – 13 April 1994)

451-616: The Nestle–Aland – Novum Testamentum Graece and The Greek New Testament for the United Bible Societies . Aland was married twice. His first marriage was to Ingeborg Aland (they had three children together). In 1972, he married Barbara Aland . He died in Münster , Germany, in 1994. Kurt Aland was representative of increasing specialism within theological-historical studies. In the field of New Testament research, his work (and also

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492-583: The Purple Uncials (or purple codices). Aland placed all four manuscripts of the group (the Purple Uncials) in Category V . In Matthew 1:11 it has the additional reading τον Ιωακιμ, Ιωακιμ δε εγεννησεν ( Joakim, Joakim begot ) — M U Θ f 33 258 478 661 954 1216 1230 1354 1604 Lectionary 54 syr geo. In Matthew 23:25 it reads ακαθαρσιας for ακρασιας, a reading supported by Old Latin ,

533-642: The Syriac Sinaiticus manuscript, and Coptic version . The Rossano Gospels is one of the oldest illuminated manuscript to be penned in silver ink on purple dyed parchment with colors hues chosen from dark purple to reddish brown. The Vienna Genesis and the Sinope Gospels are also written in silver ink on purple-dyed parchment. In the Middle Ages, purple was believed to be a symbol of royalty or holiness, and because Christianity considered Jesus Christ to be

574-775: The United Bible Societies . Aland was born in Berlin - Steglitz . He started studying theology in 1933 at the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität in Berlin (he also studied philology, archaeology, and history). On 23 March that year, he was examined before the Bruderrat (council of brothers) in the Bekennende Kirche (Confessing Church). During his studies, he worked for the journal of the Confessing Church, Junge Kirche (Young Church). In an ideological brochure, Wer fälscht? (Who

615-630: The κεφάλαια ( tables of contents ) before each Gospel, τίτλοι ( titles ) at the top of the pages, numbers of Ammonian Sections , and references to the Eusebian Canons . The text of the Codex agrees generally with the Byzantine text-type in close relationship to the Codex Petropolitanus Purpureus . The Rossano Gospels, along with the manuscripts N , O , and Φ , belong to the group of

656-642: The 26th edition of Nestle–Aland and the third edition of the Greek New Testament. Both editions contain the identical text while differing in their apparatus. However, the main objective of the Institute was the so-called Editio Critica Maior based on the entire tradition of the New Testament in Greek manuscripts , old translations and New Testament quotations in ancient Christian literature. The prerequisite for

697-477: The Gospels, there are two figures; Saint Mark is seated in a throne-like chair with his muse, Mary , as Divine wisdom . There is definitely a sense of space within. The robes of the two figures are also lined with complexity with many strokes of the pen showing the folds of cloth. Thus, it is surprising that the surrounding architecture, which consists of two columns and what appears to be an apse or other such archway,

738-544: The INTF collected almost the entire material that was needed. The manuscript count in 1950 was 4250, in 1983, 5460, and in 2017 approximately 5800 manuscripts. Moreover, INTF produces several more editions and a variety of tools for New Testament scholarship, including the concise editions known as the "Nestle–Aland" – Novum Testamentum Graece and the UBS Greek New Testament. Many of the results are also available to

779-423: The INTF the concise scholarly edition saw further revisions and publications, until it became the trademark of the institute under the name of "Nestle-Aland" – Novum Testamentum Graece . In 1966, a second concise edition intended for translators, the Greek New Testament, was published. The great papyri discoveries of the 20th century were of special relevance for a new reconstruction of the text published in both

820-624: The North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences and Arts accepted the Editio Critica Maior as one of their projects. In the following year the project was established at Münster University as Novum Testamentum Graecum – Editio Critica Maior . The INTF also holds some manuscripts of the New Testament, and took responsibility for registering the New Testament manuscripts (named the Gregory–Aland numbers), and for editing

861-530: The Rossano Gospels are separate from the text of the Gospels and are arranged according to the liturgical calendar during the season of Lent. The now incomplete codex contains the text of the Gospels of Matthew and the majority of the Gospels of Mark with only one lacuna , Mark 16:14-20. It is thought that there was a companion second volume, which is apparently lost. It contains the Epistula ad Carpianum , tables of

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902-455: The embodiment of God, he is worthy of the rare purple dye. Rossano Gospel's paper are vellum parchment, made from the skin of a calf; the thinner parchment is, the higher its value. The large ( 300 mm by 250 mm ) book has text written in a 215 mm square block with two columns of twenty lines each. The prefatory cycle of illustrations is also on purple dyed parchment. Rossano Codex is fully gilded on valuable vellum surface which makes

943-424: The images, the eyes of the crowd figures are not quite focused on the subject on the drawing, suggesting that they held another position when they were first drawn. Christ stands in a subordinate position, lower and to one side. Pilate 's commanding position distinguishes these miniatures from almost all other versions of the trial in early Christian and medieval art . Another distinctive mark of these miniatures

984-510: The international UNESCO Committee inscribed the Codex Purpureus Rossanensis in its register of the memory of the world . The Rossano Gospels presents its text in a liturgical order like some other restored manuscripts . Chapters in this manuscript are arranged according to the church year. In this particular case, the readings followed the Lenten seasonal order, telling the story of Jesus ' last few weeks on earth and about his death. Although it

1025-594: The latter established the Hermann Kunst Foundation for the Promotion of New Testament Textual Research which has granted crucial financial support to the Institute ever since. In 1979, Kurt Aland founded the Bible Museum Münster that presents the work of the institute to the general public. In 1983, Barbara Aland succeeded her husband as director of the institute. Under her supervision, the analysis of

1066-527: The lavish materials and high quality of the illumination, Byzantine art historians, such as Kathleen Maxwell, have posited that it was created in an imperial scriptorium in Constantinople . In the sixth century , gospel books had two main types of presentation, Biblical order and liturgical order. Liturgical order means that the readings were arranged according to the church calendar , which begins at Advent and ends with Pentecost . The illustrations of

1107-526: The material that had been started under Kurt Aland continued and was made accessible for research in numerous publications. The first supplement of the Editio Critica Maior with the Epistle of James was finally published in 1997. Barbara Aland led the institute until 2004. Since October 2004 Holger Strutwolf  [ de ] has been in office as director of the institute and the Bible Museum. In 2007

1148-563: The realisation of this task was the sifting and examination of the entire manuscript tradition of the Greek New Testament. Under the supervision of Kurt Aland the INTF first of all collected almost the entire material (partly on extensive manuscript travels), followed by analyses in single editions and specific studies in preparation of the Editio Critia Maior . Kurt Aland found a friend and patron in Bishop Hermann Kunst. In 1964

1189-506: The sponsorship of the Institute for New Testament Textual Research . Another priority in his life was church history, being concerned with the early church, the Reformation , and movements such as pietism and revivalism. Aland received critical acclaim for his profundity and comprehensive knowledge of the textual sources for the New Testament. His contemporary presence is relevant, having contributed to modern scientific methodology. Aland

1230-461: The table are reclining; they are twisted in a way that is not proportional according to the strange dual perspective. The floor actually seems to be part of the table at first glance, as there is no distinction between where the table ends and the floor begins. The floor, too, is miraculously upended, and upon it are drawings of pheasants or peacocks . The disciples that gather around the semi-circular table form an arch. Perhaps an original of this piece

1271-529: The textual history of the New Testament and to reconstruct its Greek initial text on the basis of the entire manuscript tradition, the early translations and patristic citations; furthermore the preparation of an Editio Critica Maior based on the entire tradition of the New Testament in Greek manuscripts, early versions and New Testament quotations in ancient Christian literature. Under Kurt Aland 's supervision,

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1312-458: The value of the manuscript unique and precious. In Medieval times , writing mixed with gold or silver had spiritual connotations, reflecting the presence of God. In the Christ before Pilate illumination, the trial of Christ before Pilate is shown, where Pontius Pilate is sitting on a chair surrounded by people. There is a halo-like shape drawn over the whole scene, and the people are arranged in

1353-618: The wider public at the adjoining Bible Museum , which is affiliated with the institute. First supplements of the Editio Critica Maior with the Catholic epistles and the Acts of the Apostles have been published since 1997. The INTF was founded in Münster , Germany, in 1959 by Kurt Aland (1915–1994). Since the 1950s Aland had been working on Eberhard and Erwin Nestle 's Novum Testamentum Graece . At

1394-538: The work that he did together with his wife Barbara Aland in the Institute for New Testament Textual Research in Münster) is internationally acclaimed. The focus of his work began as an intense and adventurous search for old manuscripts on several expeditions to abbeys in Russia and Greece (amongst others). He discovered numerous manuscripts of the New Testament, whose evaluation is still in progress. Most notable among his work

1435-551: Was a German theologian and biblical scholar who specialized in New Testament textual criticism . He founded the Institut für neutestamentliche Textforschung (Institute for New Testament Textual Research) in Münster and served as its first director from 1959 to 1983. He was one of the principal editors of Nestle–Aland – Novum Testamentum Graece for the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft and The Greek New Testament for

1476-622: Was kept under arrest for three months. Aland frequently spoke out against various forms of state oppression directed at churches and also demanded freedom of speech in East Germany. In July 1958, he lost his job at the University. However, in September of that year, he successfully escaped to West Berlin. His 8000-volume library was incorporated into the University Library. In 1958, Aland became

1517-570: Was of the opinion that every work within historical research stands on its adherence to reliability and accessibility. The archives ( Nachlass ) of Kurt Aland are provided in the University Archives of the University of Münster , Germany. Kurt Aland achieved the following honorary doctorates: He received the following awards: Kurt Aland was a member of the following academies: Festschriften: The American Society of Biblical Literature elected him an Honorary Member. Furthermore, Aland

1558-412: Was once situated in such a way. Eyes of the disciples are slightly unfocused as they look at Jesus, suggesting that their forms may have been situated along the structure of an apse 's shell-like shape. INTF The Institute for New Testament Textual Research ( German : Institut für neutestamentliche Textforschung — INTF) at the University of Münster , Westphalia , Germany , is to research

1599-563: Was ordained as minister of the parish of Berlin-Steglitz . After World War II , Aland became a lecturer on the theological faculty of the Humboldt University of Berlin . In 1947, he was appointed professor ordinarius in Halle (Saale) . Aland disapproved of the Marxist government of East Germany , and was persecuted as a result. In 1953, he was accused of smuggling watches to West Berlin and

1640-471: Was posed. Almost all other representations are content to present the famous hand-washing scene, the last act of the trial, in which Pilate disclaimed responsibility for the decision taken. In the Rossano Gospel's Trial of Christ, there are three acts and three interludes. The inscription on the rector at the top (Matt 27:2) announced the opening of trial in which Christ's silence and refusal to answer charges

1681-536: Was the newly arranged edition of Novum Testamentum Graece (Greek New Testament) in 1979 (also called Nestle–Aland). This textual foundation for the New Testament exemplifies a scholarly mentality aimed at achieving the highest possible convergence with the "original text." Furthermore, he acted in the Hermann-Kunst-Stiftung, which was founded in 1964 by Hermann Kunst, a good friend of Aland. Many important figures within politics and economics participated in

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