Faith leaders regularly use iPads to research their sermons and smartphones to text church members. Tonight, many will put aside their high-tech tools to honor a book that was created the old-fashioned way – by hand.

The Saint John's Bible is the first handwritten, hand-illuminated Bible commissioned since the advent of the printing press more than 500 years ago.

Fifteen years in the making, the Saint John's Bible will be on display for the first time in Northern California at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

The bible will be the focus of a special ecumenical worship service in observance of Christian Unity Week, which concludes on Wednesday. The service is free and open to the public. The bible on display at the Cathedral is one of only 299 copies of the handwritten bible.

"This Bible indicates the relevance of God's word today and the beauty of it," said the Rev. Michael Kiernan, rector of the Cathedral in downtown Sacramento. "This is the highlight of Christian unity week, it brings faiths together around the word of God."

Local faith leaders gather every year in observance of Christian Unity Week, said Kiernan. Some years they have guest speakers or observe the week with prayer.

This year, ministers or church leaders from 50 congregations are expected to attend. Four will speak and three church choirs will perform.

In this digital age, church leaders say there is something sacred about a Bible written by hand.

The Rev. Rick Cole of Capital Christian Center writes his own blog, posts on Facebook and his church has its own website. Cole is one of the pastors scheduled to read scripture and talk about the Saint John's Bible.

"I really appreciate the value of the work ethic involved, the hours invested in making art, especially something with a spiritual foundation," Cole said. "It's a special gift that shouldn't be ruled out because of technology."

He said he is also drawn to the event because he likes the ecumenical aspect of it. "I really enjoy the interaction across faith lines," Cole said.

The Saint John's Bible appeals to Christians of various denominations because it uses a common translation, said Jim Triggs, executive director of the Heritage program, which oversaw the project.

St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn., sponsored the Bible. Theologians there selected the New Revised Standard Version because it is gender-inclusive and is used by both Protestants and Catholics, Triggs said. It is also the version used at last year's royal wedding.

The Saint John's Bible was penned mostly by Donald Jackson, known as the "queen's calligrapher" because he's scribe to the Crown Office at the House of Lords.

When opened, the Saint John's Bible is 2 feet by 3 feet. The book, covering the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation, was written in seven volumes, according Triggs. It is 1,150 pages. Visitors will be able to touch and open the Bible on display, said Triggs. "We want people to experience it," Triggs said.

He said the Bible can be appreciated from different viewpoints.

"From an artistic, religious or historical perspective," Triggs said, "it is a beautiful work of art."

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

Call The Bee's Jennifer Garza, (916) 321-1133.

• Read more articles by Jennifer Garza