The growth of LiNbO3 (LN) crystals doped with Co2+ ions in 0.1 and 0.3 mol% concentrations by the Bridgman method in congruent composition (Li2O: 48.6mol%, Nb2O5: 51.4mol%) and CoO as dopant under the conditions of temperature gradient around 20～40 ℃/cm for solid-liquid interface and growth rate of 1～3 mm/h was reported. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) were used to characterize the crystals. The absorption spectra of different parts of crystals from 350 to 2500 nm were recorded. The three split absorption peaks at 520, 549 and 612 nm, and a wide band centered at 1358 nm were observed. The absorption results indicated that the Co ions presented +2 valence in crystal and located within the distorted oxygen octahedrons. The concentration of Co2+ ion in crystal reduced along growing direction, and the effective distribution coefficient of Co2+ in LiNbO3 crystal was more than 1. The emission spectra under 900-nm wavelength were studied. The band at 750 nm was observed and the peak was red-shifted as the increase of exciting wavelength.