These are passages taken from the Gospels of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, as extracts from the missal. These Gospel lessons are for the four major feasts of the Church: Christmas Day; the Feast of the Annunciation; the Epiphany; and the Feast of the Ascension. The lessons detail the life and resurrection of Christ. St. John’s account of the Passion is also given.

Each Gospel commences with a miniature of the Evangelist accompanied by his symbol, usually writing his Gospel. If they are not writing, then they may be involved in an associated task, such as sharpening their quills. The Passion usually follows the Sequences and may be illustrated by a Passion scene, for instance, the Crucifixion (see Hours of the Virgin) or St. John boiling in a cauldron of oil.

The scene and the symbol assist us in determining the identity of each evangelist. Matthew is usually shown as a mature, seldom youthful man, shown with his symbolic angel (a winged man), which inspired his Gospel. Mark is shown as a bearded man, holding the book of his Gospel, usually with a lion, his symbol. Usually, he is depicted as similar to Saint Peter. Images of Luke vary, but they usually include his symbol, the ox, which at times may be the only means available to identify this evangelist. John, the Apostle and the Evangelist (not St. John the Baptist) was banished to the Greek isle of Patmos by the Roman Emperor Domitian, where he wrote his Book of Revelation. Most often depicted on Patmos, he is usually presented as a very old man with a long white or grey beard, writing his Revelation, with his symbol, the eagle.

For the Passion, a different image of St. John, that of the supposed martyrdom, is presented. According to the Golden Legend, Domitian immersed St. John in a cauldron of boiling oil. John is depicted, neither harmed nor discomforted, sitting naked in the pot. John may be holding his hands together in prayer as his executioners stoke the fire and ladle the oil over his head. To the side, the emperor and his senators observe the unsuccessful execution.
 
 

John	Luke
Mark	Matthew