Leaf from an Antiphonary: Floral Initial (recto); Text (verso)

The leaf comes from an Antiphonale, a liturgical book that contains the melodies and texts of all the chants of the Liturgy of the Hours, the antiphons. These include the psalms, responsories and hymns, which are arranged in the book in the order of the church year. The antiphons served clergymen and monks or nuns for their service in the choir stalls of the church.