What are the Rossano Gospels?

The Rossano Gospels are the oldest known illustrated manuscript of the Gospels. The document dates from the sixth century and is kept in Rossano, Italy. The manuscript was created after the Byzantine Empire regained control of the Italian Peninsula. The Rossano Gospels are also called the Codex Purpureus Rossanensis due to the reddish-purple pages of the codex.

The Rossano Gospels are incomplete, with most of the original text lost to history. Only 188 of the original 400 sheets of parchment are extant. What we have now is some introductory material, including a table of contents and the Letter of Eusebius; the whole Gospel of Matthew; and most of the Gospel of Mark. There is a gap, however, where the Textus Receptus places Mark 16:14–20. It is thought that a companion volume containing the Gospels of Luke and John existed at one time.

A distinguishing characteristic of the Rossano Gospels is the brightly painted illustrations. Scenes from the life of Christ are arranged in two horizontal tiers on each page. Beneath these scenes are miniature portraits of Old Testament prophets. Illustrations include depictions of Mark writing on a scroll, the raising of Lazarus, the cleansing of the temple, and Jesus standing before Pilate.

The text of the Rossano Gospels is organized in two columns, with twenty lines per page, and is written in silver ink. The pages are crafted from calfskin vellum. The book itself is large, almost 12" x 10".

The exact origin of the Rossano Gospels remains unknown. The manuscript dates to the sixth century, but scholars are uncertain about its place of creation. Art historian Kathleen Maxwell suggests Constantinople as its place of origin (Smarthistory Guide to Byzantine Art, ch. 28, the British Library, 2021). The manuscript was discovered by Oskar von Gebhardt and Adolf Harnack in 1879. On October 9, 2015, UNESCO included the Codex Purpureus Rossanensis in its Memory of the World Register.

The opulence and artistry of the Rossano Gospels showcases the religious devotion of the Byzantine creators. The Rosano Gospels are a masterpiece of early Christian art.