Historic Cathedral Shocks Visitors With Giant Bible Display
In celebration of Johannes Gutenberg’s 625th birthday, Mainz Cathedral in Germany is displaying the world’s largest Bible page. This monumental page, measuring 16.4 x 23.6 feet, showcases the first page of John’s Gospel, translated from the Shuckburgh Bible, a variant of the Gutenberg Bible. The display, which will remain open until August 31, is located in the cathedral’s east choir section.
The unveiling of this impressive Bible page took place on April 28, with Mayor Nino Haase and Rev. Henning Priesel, the Dean of Mainz Cathedral, leading the media presentation. Priesel expressed the significance of the page’s placement within the cathedral, noting that it aligns perfectly with various events organized to commemorate Gutenberg’s milestone anniversary. “Mainz is the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg, and where better to showcase the largest Bible page than in the cathedral?” he said.
To complement the exhibit, a dedicated reading area has been set up in the All Saints’ Chapel, featuring Bible editions for all ages. Visitors can explore these texts and contribute by writing their favorite Bible verses in a guestbook. Haase also highlighted the impact of the printing process for this page, calling it a spectacle. He expressed pride in the exhibition, which provides both locals and visitors a chance to admire this historical highlight during the 625th anniversary celebration of Gutenberg’s birth.
The Bible page was printed on April 26 using traditional letterpress methods by Markus Kohz and his team from the International Gutenberg Society. This occurred during the Kultursommer event, which celebrated Gutenberg’s legacy in Mainz. The printing process involved inking a wooden printer cliché and using a car’s weight to press the ink onto the paper.
In addition to the Bible page exhibition, Mainz Cathedral and the Mainz Cathedral and Diocesan Museum have organized an exhibition titled The Whole World on Parchment: The Choir Books from the Mainz Carmelite Monastery, which is on display until June 15. The year-long Gutenberg celebrations will culminate on August 24 with a grand concert at the cathedral, featuring 200 participants, including choirs, the Mainz Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Collegium Musicum of Johannes Gutenberg University. The concert will feature Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang (“Hymn of Praise”).