(Q24492)

This initial begins the antiphon at Vespers for the Easter Vigil, 'Alleluya alleluya alleluya alleluya ....' According to Christian belief, Christ descended into Hell before his resurrection. According to the tradition that developed in the Middle Ages, Christ not only descended into Hell but broke down the gates of Hell to release its captives who died before the time of grace. Here, Christ...

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This image shows the reverse of a leaf with an historiated initial from an antiphonary. This side of the leaf, the true verso, contains the liturgy for the Easter Vigil, which begins on the front.

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Initial I with the First Day of Creation

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This initial begins the first response of the first nocturn of Matins for Septuagesima Sunday, 'In principio fecit deus celam et terram ...' (In the beginning God created heaven and earth). It shows God as the 'mover of the spheres.' He directs with his rod the formation of the earth with seven spheres around it. According to medieval astrology, the earth was surrounded by a number of spheres...

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This image shows the reverse of a leaf with an historiated initial from an antiphonary. This side of the leaf, the true verso, continues the first response of the first nocturn of Matins for Septuagesima Sunday, which begins on the front.

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Initial I with God commanding Moses to go to Egypt

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This initial begins the first response of the first nocturn of Matins for the Forth Sunday in Lent, 'Locutus est dominus ad Moysen didens descende in Egyptum ...' (The Lord spoke to Moses saying, 'Go down to Egypt).

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This image shows the reverse of a leaf with an historiated initial from an antiphonary. This side of the leaf, the true recto, contains the antiphons preceding the first response of the first nocturn of Matins for the Forth Sunday in Lent.

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Initial M with Christ and two soldiers

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This initial begins the first response for the second nocturn of Matins for Passion Sunday, 'Multiplicati sunt qui tribulant me ...' (Those who afflict me have increased in number). In an unusual moment, the artist depicts Christ with his back to the viewer, possibly to enhance the sense of alienation expressed in the first words of this response.

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This image shows the reverse of a leaf with an historiated initial from an antiphonary. This side of the leaf, the true recto, contains the antiphons and canticles preceding the second nocturn of Matins for Passion Sunday, the fifth Sunday in Lent.

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Initial I with Christ's entry into Jerusalem

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This initial begins the invitatory at Matins for Palm Sunday, 'Ipsi uero non cognoverunt uias meas ...' (These men have not known my ways). Usually, scenes of Christ's entry into Jerusalem are peopled with apostles and citizens of the city waving palms to honor Christ. This example, however, shows Christ alone on the ass. Like Lewis E M 70:15, the minimalization of the scene may have been...

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This image shows the reverse of a leaf with an historiated initial from an antiphonary. This side of the leaf, the true verso, continues the liturgy of Matins for Palm Sunday, which begins on the front.

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Lewis E M 70:12-16 are from the same manuscript.

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Script: Rotunda

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acknowledgements

Contributor: David Kalish

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Cataloger: Dot Porter

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Funder: Council on Library and Information Resources

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