Dr. Peter Baltutis, Associate Professor of History and Religious Studies and holder of the CWL Chair for Catholic Studies at St. Mary’s University, recently visited University of Calgary as a guest lecturer for Dr. George Ferzoco’s The Bible as Literature course. During his visit, Dr. Baltutis presented St. Mary’s treasured Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible.
A Rare and Valuable Edition
The Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible is one of only five copies in Canada and one of just 299 in the entire world. This unique artifact provided a fascinating opportunity for Calgary students to learn about the Bible’s composition and explore the stunning illuminations and text treatments that make this edition so significant.

Engaging Students with History and Art
Students were fully engaged throughout the lecture and were able to view the pages up close. Gathered around the Bible, spending an extra half hour after the lecture, they studied its intricate details and explored the artwork embedded in the gospel’s text. Their curiosity and awe were evident:
“What an absolute privilege it was to see, tangibly feel, and learn about The Saint John’s Bible during Dr. Baltutis’ visit to The University of Calgary! It was incredibly fascinating to learn about the rich history behind the Bible and the intricate process involved in its creation. Seeing it in person has truly filled my heart and mind with awe and a deeper desire to read and learn about the Bible even more!” – Iah
“To see and interact with the Heritage Edition was a really engaging learning experience. Having the chance to flip through it and see up close the symbolism that Dr. Baltutis described using the artist’s notes allowed me to appreciate the time and effort put into creating it more than just seeing it through a screen.” – Annie
“Getting to see and touch a Heritage Edition of the St. John’s Bible in person was an amazing experience. The time and effort spent on it was clear, and the work by the artists was beautiful. The idea of creating a medieval style manuscript in the 21st century is innovative in a sense and highlights the influence seeing and reading a Bible may have had on medieval people.” – Katie
Open to all and sharing our Catholic Intellectual Traditions
It is always a gift for St. Mary’s to share its distinctive resources with the broader academic community in Calgary.
The Saint John’s Bible is open to the public for viewing at the university’s library, St. Basil’s Hall.
Library hours:
Monday – Thursday: 8AM – 8PM
Friday: 8AM – 7PM
Saturday: 10AM – 4PM
Sunday: Closed