The spectacular British Library is one of the largest libraries in the world. Included in its most important possessions is the illuminated manuscript called the Lindisfarne Gospels. It is considered one of the finest works in the unique style of Insular art, combining Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Celtic elements. It is regarded as one of the first and greatest masterpieces of medieval European book painting. The Gospels are richly illustrated and were originally encased in a fine leather binding covered with jewels and metals made by a hermit named Billfrith the Anchorite in the 8th century. During the Viking raids on Lindisfarne in 793 CE this jewelled cover was separated from the vellum pages of the Gospels and stolen. The Vikings valued the jewels but saw no value in the illuminated manuscript, and left it in the abbey after the raids on a place called Holy Island. The island was of great importance to early Christian Britian because it is one of the places where Christianity began in England in 634 CE. The monks left Holy Island and Lindisfarne Abbey in 875 fleeing continuing Viking raids. They brought with them the bones of Northumbrias patron saint St. Cuthbert, and also the precious pages of the Lindisfarne Gospels.