The book, pocket-sized and hand-made, was buried with the hermit when died in 687 a.d., and was found when his coffin was opened in 1104 A.D. in preparation for moving the saint's relics away from danger of Vikings. Apparently it's the oldest book in Europe to survive intact.
Here's a pic of one of the pages:
Most people don't know anything at all about St. Cuthbert these days, but he was one of the most important religious figures in early English history. You can read more about him at Wikipedia.
Update: The Cuthbert Gospel, also known as the Stonyhurst Gospel, has its own page in Wikipedia, as well. The little book is simply magnificent, click the link to see the photos.
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