The Urbino Bible – Limited Edition at Celebrate Your Faith
The Urbino Bible, commissioned by Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino, in the late 15th Century, is a stunning work of art in its own right. The Urbino Bible is one of the rare examples of artistic collaboration in Florence during this time period.
This splendid manuscript, without a doubt a Florentine miniature masterpiece of the Renaissance, was commissioned by Federico at the working studio of Vespasiano da Bisticci, the renowned Florentine bookseller who was the primary provider of manuscripts for the Urbino library.
The original Urbino Bible is divided into two books. The volumes are particularly important for the richness of their illustrations. Hugo de Cominellis or Hugues de Comminellis de Mazieres, who was also responsible for other books commissioned by Federico, has been identified as the scribe of these volumes. The copy is a transcription of the canonic text of the Vulgate.
Scholars have identified the hands of a number of different artists who cooperated in decorating these volumes, among them, panel painters, fresco painters and miniature painters. The artists involved in these splendid decorations include Attavante, the Master of the Hamilton Xenophon, Francesco Rosselli, the brother of the most famous Cosimo, Francesco d’Antonio del Chierico, to whom we owe the greatest number of the illustrations, Biagio d’Antonio, Bartolomeo di Giovanni and David and Domenico Ghirlandaio.
Federico, nicknamed “the Light of Italy”, is a landmark figure in the history of the Italian Renaissance. He imposed justice and stability on his tiny state. He engaged the best copyists and editors in his private scriptorium to produce the most comprehensive library outside of the Vatican. He was a staunch supporter in the development of fine artists, including the early training of the young painter Raphael.
Despite his privileged rank, Federico always remained interested in the average citizen. He took care of soldiers who might be killed or wounded, providing, for example, dowries for their daughters. He often strolled the streets of Urbino unarmed and unattended, inquiring in shops and businesses as to the well-being of the citizens. He held to the belief that all citizens, regardless of rank, were equal under the law.
Celebrate Your Faith is proud to offer a very limited number of this rare Bible for sale. Additionally, the painstaking reproduction of this masterpiece is adorned and jeweled on the exterior cover to create an exclusive version not found anywhere else. The brilliant gemstones and meticulous detailing add a truly remarkable quality to this extraordinary find. Reserve your copy today!
To learn more about Federico da Montefeltro, visit Federico da Montefeltro on Wikipedia
To read about and see excerpts from treasures of the Vatican Library, including the Urbino Bible, visit The European Library
See some of the amazing work in this Bible below. Click on any of the images to see a larger one.
Click here to go to our website…
King James Bible KJV 400th Anniversary Celebration
May 2, 1611 – May 2, 2011
On May 2, 2011 the world will celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible. The history surrounding the publishing of this version of the Bible showed a hunger by the people to have the unadulterated Word of God accessible to them on a daily basis so they could commune with God and know Him through His Word.
The King James Version, or Authorized Version, of the Bible was commissioned at a time of Renaissance of literature and language in England, which led to a translation rich with the rhythms and beauty of Elizabethan poetry and drama. At the same time, the relatively new technology known as the printing press was seen as a means with which to open up accessibility to the Scriptures to ordinary Christians on a massive scale for the first time in history.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the King James Bible not Shakespeare set this language on its path to become a universal language on a scale unprecedented before or since.” – Melvyn Bragg, British Author and Broadcaster
The King James Version (KJV) of 1611, also known as “the people’s Bible”, became an enduring work in an age when religion mattered to almost everyone in a way that is difficult to appreciate today. When people believed in God and what the scriptures taught, Christian beliefs were part and parcel of daily life. It mattered what was taught and understood. It mattered what people really believed. It influenced their lives, their attitudes and their actions – from the highest in the land to the lowliest man or woman. The KJV had an enormous effect on peoples’ lives; its language and terminology may seem archaic today but it was the everyday parlance of ordinary people and its language became entwined into English literature over many generations, not just in England but wherever the Bible was carried into what has become the English-speaking world, and is with us today. (KJV Development)
“The King James Bible is a cornerstone of our culture and our language. Whatever our faith, whatever we believe, we have to recognise that the rhetorical power of this book, and in particular its power to fuse history with poetry, connects at the most fundamental level with our own history and poetry.” – Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, 1999-2009
A Timeline of Events leading up to the publishing of the King James Version
- 1601 – 16 May, a meeting of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland took place in the Parish Church of Burntisland, Fife, attended by King James VI of Scotland. It was at this meeting that the proposal to have a new translation of the Bible was first discussed.
- 1603 – James VI of Scotland became James I, King of England
- 1604 – The Hampton Court Conference on the future of the church; at this conference it was decided to commission a new translation of the Bible in an effort to provide a new translation which would be acceptable to everyone. The issue of too many marginal notes in the Geneva Bible became a rallying point for the adoption of the following resolution: “That a translation be made of the whole Bible, as consonant as can be to the original Hebrew and Greek; and this to be set out and printed, without any marginal notes, and only to be used in all churches of England in time of divine service.” King James I and Richard Bancroft, Bishop of London, later to become Archbishop of Canterbury, drew up instructions for the translators which would ensure that the new version would conform to the theology of the Church of England.
- 1610 – Meeting to discuss the translation at the Stationers Hall, City of London. Building on the advances in Hebrew and Greek scholarship, together with the insights of previous translators, the translation teams produced a remarkably rich and resonant version, which was to serve for public readings in churches as well as private devotional reading. The Bishop of Gloucester, Miles Smith, wrote the Preface, which acknowledged the new translation’s debt to its predecessors, but set out the hope that “out of many good ones” there would now be “one principal good one” used by everyone.
- 1611 – The King James Bible was published, despite considerable problems printing it.
- 1620 – The Pilgrim Fathers set sail to America, taking the English Bible with them. This was an immensely important step in the diffusion of the bible world-wide, which was further enhanced by its use during the expansion of British influence across the world with the East India Company, the establishment of colonies in Africa, and the discovery of Australia and New Zealand.
Four hundred years later, the King James Version of the Bible continues to inspire people from all walks of life and faith traditions and is regarded as the most influential book ever published in the English language. H.L. Mencken, a 20th Century American writer, praised it as “probably the most beautiful piece of writing in all the literature of the world.”
Celebrate Your Faith has a number of special 400th anniversary products in our Bible Boutique to celebrate this milestone. Remember, we can personalize any of these Bibles for you, for a gift, or any special occasion!
KJV Family Bible 400th Anniversary Commemorative Edition
This beautifully crafted family Bible will become a treasured heirloom for generations to come! This new edition contains a special full-color celebration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Version. Bonded brown leather.
400th Anniversary KJV 1611 Bible and NKJV Bible 2-Volume Commemorative Set 
This two volume set contains the New King James Version and the original KJV 1611 edition. This version has authentic spellings, capitalization, and punctuation used by the 1611 translators themselves, before centuries of changes began to occur. Set in roman type for easier reading, it includes the original notes, references, and books of the Bible, including the Apocrypha, as in 1611.
The King James Study Bible 400th Anniversary Edition
The most comprehensive King James Version study Bible published in 50 years, The King James Study Bible has 2,000-plus pages packed with thousands of notes and commentaries from respected conservative scholars. Also includes a 24-page full-color historical booklet commemorating the 400th anniversary of the King James Version.
KJV 400th Anniversary Bible – Black Genuine Cowhide Leather
This KJV 400th Anniversary Bible celebrates this passionate rendering of God’s Word, presenting it in a highest quality format for those who love the translation’s rich heritage and reverent language.
This study guide and prayer book celebrate the history of the King James Version of the Bible with topical Scripture text and historical information to bring encouragement, comfort, and joy to the reader. Scripture selections are divided into 45 topics that shed light on the vastness of God’s love for each one of us.
We have much more in our Bible Boutique! To view all of our King James Bibles or other translations follow the links below:
For more information on the 400th Anniversary of the King James Version, visit the following websites:
The King James Version 400th Anniversary
Meet the Designer ~ Jo Marz
“My life was my work. My work was my legacy. My legacy was based on my deep connection with Christ…even before I knew it. Isn’t that remarkable?”
Jo Marz, August 2010
For 24 years, Jo Marz has designed and created innovative, exquisite and collectible gift items in the United States. Collected by performing arts legends, respected museums, renowned business leaders, heads of state and royal families, the Jo Marz audience extends in a special way to the people who share her personal desire for elegant, hand-crafted items and those, like Jo Marz, who see life and beauty through the lens of faith.
“The soul-felt joy that my work brought me was the connection I experienced when each piece I designed found that special person who was meant to cherish it. I hold them in a place of honor in my heart.”
Jo combines unusual imported and domestic materials, semiprecious stones and unique findings to create heirloom-quality designs. She is one of the few remaining American designers producing handmade items in the United States.
CelebrateYourFaith.com is the exclusive source for many of these fine items. See the remarkable Jo Marz collection here.
Another reason to celebrate
Celebrate Your Faith.
Give Glorious Gifts.
Share God’s Love.
Today, we thank you for your support, as we celebrate the third anniversary of CelebrateYourFaith.com.
This has been the dream of our hearts; three years of learning, growing, and celebrating making a difference. Doing what we love with amazing customers and fans, beautiful artisans and their creations, and our special team of believers who work together for a great cause.
When we started CelebrateYourFaith.com, we deliberately chose July 7, 2007 (7.7.07) for our grand opening, as a powerful symbolic scriptural reminder of the Great Commission (see yesterday’s post about “God’s perfection: Number 7“).
All of us at CelebrateYourFaith.com are dedicated to reaching the world with the Good News of the Gospel. It is our heart to support mission work and missionaries with proceeds from every purchase.
For more about our company story, see this article (PDF) from the Christian Booksellers Association’s November 2008 issue.
Celebrate. Give. Share.
With your purchases, you are helping us continue to touch hearts and change many lives. It is an honor to do what we love. Thank you for your continued support!
And the $100 gift card drawing winner is….
Wait for it – there’s a story first.
Joanne and Tracy actually did video of the drawing:
To determine the winner, we made a spreadsheet listing each qualifying entry plus all bonus entries, numbered them all, then used a random number generator program to pick the winner. We got video of Joanne doing the number pick, and Tracy looking up the name. We were all excited to do our first video post (I know, we’re a bit behind the times, but we’re trying to catch up.) However, technical difficulties got the better of us, and rather than take any longer to try to fix it, we’re just going to announce the winner and do a video post some other time.
Enough already, you say! Okay. The winner is: Melanie B. (who will be contacted privately via the email address used in the entry.)
Thank you to Miriam of WCatDD for helping us with the promotion, and thank you so much to all of you who participated and left us such good feedback about the items you liked and why. We hope you’ll continue to read and comment here, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Celebrate Your Faith GIVEAWAY!
Welcome to our very first giveaway, brought to you courtesy of Miriam at WhatsCookingAtDD.com.
Miriam purchased one of our wall crosses and was so happy with the product and service, and impressed with the mission and values of Celebrate Your Faith, that she contacted us to see if we would partner with her in this giveaway. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and now we’re almost as excited about the giveaway as Miriam is! Read the story here.
What’s Cooking at DD Celebrate Your Faith Giveaway!
One winner will receive a $100 merchandise credit at Celebrate Your Faith!
To enter, visit www.celebrateyourfaith.com and choose your favorite product, then add a comment below telling us why you chose that item and what you liked about it, how it spoke to you, whatever. (We’re looking for more than just “I liked this one”; at least a sentence or two describing what and why.)
See Miriam’s WCatDD blog post for ways to increase your chance of winning by earning extra points.
The Celtic cross
The Celtic cross (a Latin cross with a circle connecting the arms of the cross) was a regional variation of the Christian symbol, born out of the cultures of the newly converted peoples of the British Isles beginning in the 5th century A.D.
Some think that the Celtic cross evolved from conventionalizing the Chi-Rho symbol (the “monogram of Christ”) used first by the Emperor Constantine, who established Christianity as the official religion of the Roman empire. But a more romantic and equally believable story of the Celtic cross’s origin comes from an Irish legend.
As the story goes, St. Patrick, while preaching the gospel, observed a sacred standing stone of the pagans, marked with a circular symbol of the moon goddess. Patrick made the mark of a Latin cross through the circle and blessed the stone, thereby creating the first Celtic high cross.
After the collapse of the Roman empire, it was primarily Irish missionaries who spread the gospel throughout the British Isles and into northern Europe. There was a significant difference in the approaches of Celtic vs. Roman missionaries; the Roman missionaries focused on the conversion of kings and other leaders who were politically influential, while the Celtic missionaries sought to convert the common people. Irish missionaries established many religious settlements in Gaul (which includes modern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland). The newly converted Celts of Gaul then created their own distinctive variations on the Celtic cross.
Whatever its precise origins, the Celtic cross is a beautiful and highly recognizable symbol of the faith of the Celtic Christians expressed through their artistic and cultural traditions. We are very happy to have found a source for hand-cast replicas of Celtic stone crosses. They are a beautiful way to express both faith and heritage.
View our selection of Celtic stone wall crosses on CelebrateYourFaith.com.
Our personalized Bibles recommended #1 in “Top Religious Valentine’s Day Gifts”
5 Top Religious Valentine’s Day Gifts for Your Boyfriend #1: Personalized Bible
A personalized bible can be a very special and sweet gift to give. He’ll be proud to carry the word of God that has his name printed right on the front. You can write a special inscription inside the front cover for him to read and reflect on his special gift. There are several bibles you can get personalized but one website you should check out is Celebrate Your Faith.com. They have several bible choices from plain bibles to a Thomas Kinkade bible. Prices range from $30 to $350 dollars.
(See original post here)
Hand-crafted German bronzes
We search the globe to bring you rare and unique symbols of faith.
Handcrafted by master artisans, these bronze gifts imported from Germany are sure to be treasured. Stock is limited, so please act now!
Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11
We remember and thank those who serve and have sacrificed to preserve our freedoms.
