Ancient Gospel fragment from Prague displayed in Italy

A rare fragment of the Gospel of Mark from Prague has gone on display in the northern Italian town of Aquileia, bringing together three surviving parts of a manuscript for the first time in seven centuries.

The fragment, considered the oldest manuscript held in Czech archives, left Czechia for the first time since 1354, when part of the text was brought to Prague by King Charles IV. The sixth-century manuscript was later divided between Prague, Venice and the nearby town of Cividale del Friuli.

The exhibition, titled “The Gospel of Mark. Seven Centuries. Three Fragments. One European Story,” runs in Aquileia until April 25. The Prague fragment will remain on display for six weeks to protect the roughly 1,500-year-old manuscript from damage.