Vespers (_Vespera_), so called from the star _Vesper_, which rises as the sun is setting, also dates from the origin of the liturgy. The hour of vespers was called _lucernarium_, because it was necessary to light the lamps at the performance of that service. A hymn exists entitled “_Ad incensum lucernæ_,” that is, “To the lighting of the lamp.” The Latins as well as the Greeks, until the eighth century, celebrated vespers after sunset; but since that period the usage of Rome, where vespers were said immediately after _Nones_, prevailed and became universal. Milan, however, still adhered to the primitive form of the rite; vespers were commenced as soon as the evening star appeared above the horizon, and terminated by torchlight. Until the fifth century vespers were the last prayers of the day, and included the psalms, which were said separately in the following century, as a last service, termed _Compline_, and which at first only contained three psalms--it was not till the ninth century that the thirtieth psalm was added. The principal libraries of Europe possess several large manuscript volumes written on vellum, as remarkable for their illuminations (Fig. 185) as for the beauty of their calligraphy; they are termed the _Evangeliarium_, the _Lectionarium_, and the _Liber Benedictionis_, and were frequently bound with great magnificence. They belonged to different churches and dioceses which, while generally following the rules of the dogmatic liturgy established by the councils, used several modifications of their own invention. Some of these modifications were important ones, and were due either to local feeling and the peculiarities of the congregation, or arose during the anniversaries, the commemorative festivals of the diocesan ritual. The use of the _Evangeliarium_ dates from St. Jerome. Before him each of the four Gospels formed a separate book, and the four were of different liturgical importance. St. Jerome collected them, arranged them in their proper order, and added marginal notes of the daily offices. [Illustration: Fig. 185.--The Mystic Fountain, from an _Evangeliarium_ of Charlemagne (Eighth Century), in the National Library of Paris. The jet of water represents the Church, the source of truth; the inner birds the souls of the elect; while those outside seem to personify souls attracted to baptism by divine grace.--From the large work of Count de Bastard.]