Saint symbolism
Symbolism of Christian saints has been used from the very beginnings of the religion.[1] Each saint is said to have led an exemplary life and symbols have been used to tell these stories throughout the history of the Church.[2] A number of Christian saints are traditionally represented by a symbol or iconic motif associated with their life, termed an attribute or emblem, in order to identify them. The study of these forms part of iconography in art history.[3] They were particularly used so that the illiterate could recognize a scene, and to give each of the Saints something of a personality in art.[2] They are often carried in the hand by the Saint.
Dutch Book of Prayers from the mid-fifteenth century. Group of five saints. From left to right, Saint Joseph, Saint James the Great, Saint Eligius, Saint Hermes, and Saint Ghislain, with their emblems.
Attributes often vary with either time or geography, especially between Eastern Christianity and the West. Orthodox images more often contained inscriptions with the names of saints, so the Eastern repertoire of attributes is generally smaller than the Western. Many of the most prominent saints, like Saint Peter and Saint John the Evangelist can also be recognised by a distinctive facial type. Some attributes are general, such as the martyr's palm.[4] The use of a symbol in a work of art depicting a Saint reminds people who is being shown and of their story. The following is a list of some of these attributes.
Four Evangelists
The symbols of the four Evangelists are here depicted in the Book of Kells. The winged man, lion, eagle and bull symbolize, clockwise from top left, Matthew, Mark, John, and Luke.
| Saint | Symbol[5] |
|---|---|
| Matthew | winged man or angel |
| Mark | winged lion |
| Luke | winged bull |
| John | eagle |
The Apostles
- Depictions of The Apostles
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| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Andrew | St. Andrew's cross[a], discalced, with fish or a rope |
| Bartholomew the Apostle | knife, bears his own skin in hand][a] |
| James, son of Zebedee | pilgrim's staff, scallop shell, key, sword, pilgrim's hat, astride a white charger, Cross of Saint James[a] |
| James, son of Alphaeus/James the Just | square rule, halberd, club, saw[a] |
| John | evangelistary, a serpent in a chalice, cauldron, eagle[a] |
| Jude | sword, square rule, club, ship[a] |
| Judas Iscariot | thirty pieces of silver[a] |
| Matthew | angel, evangelistary[a] |
| Peter | Keys of Heaven, boat, fish, rooster, pallium, papal vestments; crucified head downwards on an inverted cross, holding a book or scroll. Iconographically, he is mostly depicted with a bushy beard and hair.[a] |
| Philip | column; holding a basket of loaves and a Tau Cross[a] |
| Simon | boat; cross and saw; fish (or two fishes); lance; being sawn in two longitudinally; oar[a] |
| Thomas | placing his finger in the side of Christ, axe, spear, carpentry tools [a] |
Mary, mother of Jesus
- Depictions of Mary, mother of Jesus
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A traditional depiction of Mary by Fra Angelico wearing a blue mantle
Mary is often portrayed wearing blue. Her attributes include amongst many others a mantle (often in blue or very large to cover the faithful), crown of 12 stars, serpent, sun and/or moon, heart pierced by sword, Madonna lily, roses, and rosary beads.[6]
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Our Lady of Good Counsel | Mary with the Infant Jesus, in their touching halo appear the words SS. Mater Boni consilii, ora pro nobis Jesum filium tuum |
| Our Lady of Sorrows | Mary in mournful state, tears, bleeding heart pierced by seven swords [b] |
| Queen of Heaven | Mary with a crown of stars, flowers[a] |
Saints listed by name
A
- A
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Acathius of Melitene | crown of thorns[a] |
| Adalbert | spears[7] |
| Agatha of Sicily | tongs or shears, veil, bells, two breasts on a plate[a] |
| Agnes | lamb[a] |
| Alfege of Canterbury | axe[a] |
| Alfred the Great | codex, crown, orb/scepter[a] |
| Ambrose | bees, beehive, dove, ox, pen[a] |
| Anne, grandmother of Jesus | door, book[a], with the Virgin Mary reading, red robe and green mantle[8] |
| Anthony the Great | monk's habit, bell, pig, T-shaped cross[a] |
| Anthony of Padua | Christ Child, bread, book, white lily[a] |
| Athanasius of Alexandria | bishop arguing with a pagan, bishop holding an open book, bishop standing over a defeated heretic[a] |
| Augustine of Hippo | dove, child, shell, pen, book[a] |
B
- B
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux with the instruments of the Passion
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Barbara | tower (often with three windows), chalice, ciborium, cannon[a] |
| Barnabas | pilgrim's staff, olive branch[a] |
| Benedict | broken cup, raven, bell, crosier, bush[a] |
| Benno of Meissen | fish with keys in its mouth, book[a] |
| Bernard of Clairvaux | pen, bees, instruments of the Passion[a] |
| Bernardino of Siena | tablet or sun inscribed with IHS, three mitres[a] |
| Blaise | wax, two crossed and lit candles, iron comb[a] |
| Bonaventure | communion, ciborium, cardinal's hat[a] |
| Boniface | oak, axe, book, fox, scourge, fountain, raven, sword[a] |
| Brendan the Navigator | whale; priest celebrating Mass on board a ship while fish gather to listen; one of a group of monks in a small boat [a] |
| Bridget of Sweden | book, pilgrim's staff, habit of the Bridgettines [a] |
| Brigid of Kildare | cow, crosier, Brigid's cross[a] |
C
- C
The college shield of St Catharine's College, Cambridge, prominently depicting a Catherine wheel.
Corbinian Icon of Saint Corbinian and the bear_003_Clare_of_Assisi_.JPG.webp)
Saint Clare of Assisi holding a ciborium
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Casimir of Poland and Lithuania | royal attire of crown and red robe lined with ermine, white lily, cross, rosary; sometimes two right hands[a] |
| Catherine of Alexandria | breaking wheel, crown, sword, book[a] |
| Catherine of Ricci | ring, crown, crucifix[a] |
| Catherine of Siena | stigmata, cross, ring, lily, habit of the Dominican order[a] |
| Cecilia | organ or other musical instrument, martyr's palm, roses, sword[a] |
| Cerbonius | geese[a] |
| Charles Borromeo | cardinal's robes, the Eucharist[a] |
| Christopher | giant crudely dressed, torrent, tree, branch or large staff, carrying the Christ Child on shoulder[a] |
| Clare of Assisi | monstrance or ciborium, habit of the Poor Clares[a], crozier of an abbess |
| Clare of Montefalco | cross[a] |
| Clement | anchor, fish,[a] Mariner's Cross[b] |
| Corbinian | bear with a packsaddle [9] |
| Saints Cosmas and Damian | a phial, box of ointment[a] |
| Saints Crispin and Crispinian | shoes, millstones[a] |
| Cyriacus | deacon's vestments[a] |
D
- D
Daniel in the lions' den
Saint Dominic with dog and torch
the martyrdom of Saint Denis
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Daniel | lions[a] |
| David of Scotland | king with sword or sceptre[a] |
| David of Wales | dove[a] |
| Demetrius | Depicted wearing the armor of a Roman soldier, usually carrying a spear, often seated on a red horse[a] |
| Denis | head in hands[a] |
| Dominic | rosary[a], star, dog with a torch[10] |
| Dominic de la Calzada | hen and rooster, habit of a hermit, prayer beads, shepherd's crook[b] |
| Dorothea of Caesarea | basket with flowers or fruits[11] |
| Dunstan | hammer, tongs[a] |
| Dymphna | crown, sword, lily, lamp, princess with a fettered devil at her feet[a] |
E
- E
Emilian of Cogolla in the Battle of Simancas
Elisabeth of Portugal in the habit of the Third order of Saint Francis, with two crowns and a coat of arms at her feet
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Earconwald | bishop travelling in a chariot[a] |
| Edmund the Martyr | quiver of arrows[a] |
| Edward the Confessor | king crowned with a nimbus and holding a sceptre[a] |
| Saint Eligius | bishop portrayed with a crosier in his right hand, on the open palm of his left a miniature church of chased gold; with a hammer, anvil, and horseshoe; or with a horse[a] |
| Elijah | habit and mantle of the Carmelites, cave, scroll, chariot of fire[a] |
| Elisabeth of Hungary | alms, flowers, bread, the poor, pitcher[a] |
| Emeric | sword, lily[7] |
| Emilianus | riding into battle in the robe of a hermit[a] |
| Elisabeth of Portugal | crowns, roses, habit of a Third order Franciscan sister, crucifix[a] |
| Erasmus of Formiae | windlass[a] |
| Eric of Sweden | king being martyred at Mass[a] |
| Eustace | hunting clothes, shining cross or crucifix between the antlers of a stag, bull, horn, oven[a] |
F
- F
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Crab with crucifix as an attribute of Saint Francis Xavier
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Faith | cross, gridiron, rods, sword[a] |
| Felix of Burgundy | anchor[a] |
| Fiacre | spade, basket of vegetables[a] |
| Florian | Cross of Saint Florian; Armour of a Roman soldier; pitcher of water; pouring water over fire[12] |
| Florinus of Remüs | bottle, glass of wine[a] |
| Fourteen Holy Helpers | Saints Acacius, Barbara, Blaise, Christopher, Cyriacus, Catherine of Alexandria, Denis, Erasmus of Formiae, Eustace, George, Giles, Margaret of Antioch, Pantaleon, and Vitus, shown as a group.[b] |
| Francis of Assisi | habit of the Franciscans, wolf, birds, fish, skull, stigmata[a] |
| Francis Xavier | crucifix, bell, vessel, crab with a crucifix[a] |
G
- G
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White lily as an attribute of Saint Gabriel the Archangel.jpg.webp)
Saint Genis with theatrical mask
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Gabriel | Archangel;[13] Clothed in blue or white garments; Carrying a lily,[14] a trumpet, a shining lantern, a branch from Paradise, a scroll,[14] and a scepter.,[14] scroll stating "Ave Maria Gratia Plena"[15][a] |
| Gall | abbot's garment and crozier, blessing a bear that brings him a log of wood; may be shown holding a hermit's tau staff with the bear or carrying a loaf and a pilgrim's staff.<[16] |
| Genesius | theatre mask[a] |
| Genevieve | lit candle, bread, keys, herd, cattle[a] |
| George | dragon, soldier or knight in armour, often on white horse, especially in the East, Cross of Saint George[a] |
| Gerard of Csanád | Bishop being killed by a spear[a] |
| Gertrude of Nivelles | crown, tapir, lily, mouses and cats [a] |
| Gervasius and Protasius | the scourge, the club and the sword[b] |
| Giles | Benedictine habit, hind[a] |
| Godelieve | crown, well, being strangled[b] |
| Gotthard of Hildesheim | dragon; model of a church[17] |
| Gregory the Great | papal tiara, crosier, dove (often portrayed at his ear)[a] |
H
- H
Honoratus of Amiens with a peel
Saint Hugh of Lincoln with his attributes
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Helena | wearing a royal crown while supporting a cross[a] |
| Hermann Joseph | kneeling before a statue of the Virgin and Child and offering an apple[a] |
| Hermenegild | axe, crown, sword, and cross [b] |
| Hilary of Poitiers | episcopal vestments, crozier, beard, usually white and often long[b] |
| Hippolytus of Rome | papal tiara[a] |
| Hippolytus the soldier | military garb, horse's harness[a] |
| Honoratus of Amiens | baker's peel or shovel; bishop with a large Host; bishop with three Hosts on a baker's shovel; loaves[a] |
| Hugh of Lincoln | episcopal vestments, crozier, swan[a] |
| Humility | habit of the Vallombrosians[a] |
| Hyacinth of Poland | statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary; monstrance or ciborium[b] |
I
- I
Symbol for Isidore of Seville: beehive, crozier and quill.jpg.webp)
Ignatius of Antioch surrounded by lions
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Ignatius of Antioch | bishops vestments, surrounded by lions or in chains[a] |
| Ignatius of Loyola | Eucharist, chasuble, book often inscribed with Ad majorem Dei gloriam, or the letters AMDG, the christogram IHS with a cross across the h (traditionally with three nails below the letters, and the letters and nails surrounded by the sun's rays), sword, cross, biretta [a] |
| Imerius of Immertal | hermit's garb and bird of prey[a] |
| Indaletius | miter, staff and a book in his hands |
| Irene of Rome | tending to Saint Sebastian |
| Irene of Tomar | martyr's palm[a] |
| Isaiah | An old man with gray hair and beard holding a scroll with words from Isaiah 7:14, (in Latin) ecce virgo concipiet et pariet filium et vocabitur nomen eius Emmanuel (behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be Emmanuel)[b] |
| Isidore the Laborer | peasant holding a sickle and a sheaf of corn, a sickle and staff, as an angel plows for him; or with an angel and white oxen near him. In Spanish art, his attributes are a spade or a plough.[18] |
| Isidore of Seville | bees, pen, book[a] |
| Ivo of Kermartin | depicted as a lawyer, holding a document, in legal dress.[a] |
J
- J
An axe, the symbol of the martyrdom of Saint Jude the Apostle
Juan Diego, wearing a tilmàtli
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| James the Less | carpenter saw, fuller's club |
| Jerome | hermitage, lion, hermit wearing a cardinal's galero, vestments of a cardinal, cross, skull, books and writing material, stone in hand[a] |
| Joan of Arc | shield, armament, Cross of Lorraine[a] |
| Saint Joanna | lamb[a] |
| John Berchmans | Rule of Saint Ignatius, cross, rosary[a] |
| John Chrysostom | bees, dove, pen[a] |
| John of God | alms, heart, crown of thorns[a] |
| John the Baptist | lamb, head on a platter, animal skin (the camel-skin coat of the Gospels), pointing at Christ or a lamb, often portrayed carrying a long crudely made cross[a] |
| Joseph of Anchieta | Gospel book, crucifix and Walking stick[a] |
| Joseph, spouse of Mary | Christ Child, white lily, rod, plane, carpentry square, often brown robe and/or mantle[a] |
| Juan Diego | tilmàtli[a] |
| Justin Martyr | axe, sword[a] |
| Justina of Padua | martyr's palm, knife, unicorn[a] |
| Juthwara | round soft cheese, sword[a] |
K
- K
Saint Colomannus with his attributes
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Kateri Tekakwitha | turtle, white lily, cross, rosary [a][b] |
| Katharine Drexel | habit of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament[a] |
| Kentigern | bishop with a robin on his shoulder; holding a bell and a fish with a ring in its mouth[19] |
| Kevin of Glendalough | blackbird[a] |
| Kilian | wearing a bishop's mitre and wielding a sword[a] |
| Kinga of Poland | depicted as an abbess; crown[a] |
| Kjeld of Viborg | Priest with book[a] |
| Knut of Denmark | Royal insignia, dagger, lance or arrow.[a] |
| Koloman | pilgrim's hat and dress, rope in his hand; hanging on a gibbet; tongs and rod; book and maniple[b] |
L
- L
Saint Lucy with her eyes on a plate
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Lambert of Maastricht | martyr's palm[a], sword[b] |
| Lawrence of Rome | cross, evangelistary, gridiron, martyr's palm, purse of money, dalmatic, accompanied by a group of poor people.[b] |
| Lorenzo Ruiz | Rosary in clasped hands, gallows and pit, barong tagalog and black trousers, cross, martyr's palm[a] |
| Leander of Seville | pen[a] |
| Leonard of Noblac | lock, chain, manacles or fetters[b] |
| Liborius of Le Mans | pebbles, peacock[b] |
| Longinus | Roman soldier's attire, lance[b] |
| Louis IX of France | royal attire of crown and blue robe decorated with golden fleur-de-lis, crown of thorns, nails[b] |
| Louis Bertrand | a chalice containing a snake [b] |
| Louis of Toulouse | silk gloves and a richly embroidered cape with a jeweled clasp at the neck[b] |
| Lucy | robe of a virgin, with her eyes on a plate, lamp, sword[a] |
M
- M
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Saint Mary Magdalene with her attributes
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Margaret of Scotland | reading the bible[a] |
| Margaret the Virgin | dragon, sometimes in chains, cross, hammer[a] |
| Maria Goretti | fourteen white lilies; humble clothing; (occasionally) a knife[a] |
| Martha | aspergillum, dragon[a] |
| Martin of Tours | geese; armament of a Roman soldier, sharing his cloak with a beggar[a] |
| Martin de Porres | broom, a cat, dog and a mouse eating from the same plate[7] |
| Mary Magdalene | jar of ointment, long hear, washing Christ's feet, skull, crucifix, red egg[a] |
| Matilda | purse, alms[a] |
| Maurice | soldier in armour, banner with red cross[a] |
| Maurus | scales, spade, crutch[a] |
| Menas of Crete | two camels[a] |
| Michael | scales, banner, sword, dragon[a] |
| Monica | girdle, tears[a] |
N
- N
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Bell of Saint Ninian
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Neot | fish[a] |
| Nicholas | three golden balls or purses or small treasure cheasts, often on a book, bishop's vestments, crozier, anchor, boat, children, wheat sheaves[a] |
| Nicholas of Tolentino | Augustinian holding a bird on a plate in the right hand and a crucifix on the other hand; holding a basket of bread, giving bread to a sick person; holding a lily or a crucifix garlanded with lilies; with a star above him or on his breast[b] |
| Nicolás Factor | Franciscan habit, skull, fire [b] |
| Pope Nicholas I | rooster[20] |
| Ninian | clogrinny, or the Bell of St. Ninian[a] |
| Norbert of Xanten | monstrance, cross with two beams[a] |
O
- O
Saint Olaf with axe in a viking boat
Saint Odile with larkspur
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Obadiah | as a prophet with the index finger of his right hand pointing upward[b] |
| Oda of Scotland | depicted wearing a long blue gown with one shoulder bare; usually carries a staff or a book; always shown with a magpie on her hand and a crown under her feet[a] |
| Odile of Alsace | Abbess praying before an altar; woman with a book on which lie two eyes; larkspur[b] |
| Olaf of Norway | crown, axe, standing in a Viking boat[a] |
| Onuphrius | old hermit dressed only in long hair and a loincloth of leaves; with an angel bringing him the Eucharist or bread; hermit with a crown at his feet |
| Opportuna of Montreuil | depicted carrying an abbess's crozier and a casket of relics. She may also be shown with the Virgin appearing at her deathbed or as a princess with a basket of cherries and a fleur-de-lys[21] |
| Osgyth | represented in art with a stag behind her and a long key hanging from her girdle, or otherwise carrying a key and a sword crossed, a device which commemorates St. Peter, St. Paul and St. Andrew[22] |
P
- P
Saint Peter Martyr with an axe stuck in his head
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Pancras | sword, martyr's palm[a] |
| Pantaleon | nailed hands[a] |
| Patrick | cross, harp, serpent, baptismal font, demons, shamrock[a] |
| Paul the Apostle | sword, book or scroll, horse; long, pointed beard, and balding backwards from forehead.[a] |
| Peter of Saint Joseph de Betancur | bell, Franciscan habit and spear canary pastor.[a] |
| Pedro Calungsod | martyr's palm, spear, bolo, doctrina christiana book, rosary, christogram, crucifix[a] |
| Pancras | sword, palm branch[a] |
| Petronilla | broom and/or a set of keys, dolphin[a] |
| Philip Neri | white lily[a] |
| Philomena | anchor, martyr's palm, crown of roses, arrows[a] |
Q
- Q
Saint Quentin with two spits
The arms of Roetgen showing the symbol of Quirinus, the patron saint of Rott, who killed a dragon with a crossed-spear
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Quentin | depicted as a young man with two spits; vestments of a deacon; with a broken wheel; with a chair to which he is transfixed; with a sword or beheaded, a dove flying from his severed head[a] |
| Quiricus | depicted as a naked child riding on a wild boar[a] |
| Quirinus of Malmedy | Vestments of a priest celebrating Mass, dragon[23] |
| Quirinus of Neuss | military attire; knight with lance, sword, hawk; banner or sign with nine balls[a] |
| Quirinus of Sescia | millstone hanging from his neck[b] |
| Quiteria | depicted with a dog on a lead; depicted with her head in her hands, emerging from the sea.[a] |
R
- R
Saint Roch showing his plague mark
Saint Rita of Cascia with her forehead wound
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Raphael (archangel) | fish, walking stick, leading Tobias by the hand[b] |
| Raymond Nonnatus | A Mercedarian friar wearing a cardinal's red mozzetta, holding a monstrance and a martyr's palm branch [b] |
| Raymond of Penyafort | skimming across the sea with his cape as both boat and sail[b] |
| Remigius | dove, book, lamp[b] |
| Reparata | martyr's crown and palm; a dove; a banner with a red cross on a white field; sometimes depicted with St. Ansanus[24] |
| Richard | bishop with overturned chalice[a] |
| Rita of Cascia | roses, roses and figs, crucifix, thorn, robe of a widow or Augustinian habit sometimes with a wound or the marks of a thorn crown on her forehead[a] |
| Roch | angel, dog with bread, showing his plague mark, pilgrim's dress[a] |
| Rosalia of Palermo | being crowned by the Divine infant with roses, cross, book, or skull, lilies, chisel, hammer[b] |
| Rose of Lima | crown of thorns, anchor, city, roses, crown of roses, sometimes wearing habit of the Dominican order [a] |
| Rufina and Justa | a model of the Giralda; earthenware pots, bowls and platters; books on which are two lumps of potter's clay; palm of martyrdom; lion[b] |
S
- S
_-_Saints_John_the_Evangelist%252C_Scholastica_and_Benedict%252C_Fragment_of_the_Crucifixion_Scene_-_NG260_-_National_Gallery.jpg.webp)
Saints Scholastica, Benedict and John the Evangelist
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Sativola | scythe, well[a] |
| Sava of Serbia | book[a] |
| Saint Scholastica | habit of a Benedictine nun, dove, Rule of St. Benedict, crozier of an abbes [b] |
| Seraphim of Sarov | Wearing peasant clothing, often kneeling with his hands upraised in prayer crucifix worn about his neck, hands crossed over chest[a] |
| Sebastian | arrows, crown[a] |
| Spyridon of Corfu | bishop with Gospel; long, pointed beard, and wearing a shepherd's hat[a] |
| Stanislaus of Szczepanów | bishop's vestments and insignia, sword[a] |
| Stanisław Kazimierczyk | Canon's attire[a] |
| Stephen the Martyr | vestments of a deacon, stone(s), martyr's palm [a] |
| Stephen of Hungary | ttire of a King, and holding an orb or a sceptre with double cross[7] |
| Swithun | bishop with bridge, broken eggs[a] |
T
- T
Christ with Saint Teresa of Avila, holding a thorn in order to pierce her heart
Saint Therese of Lisieux with her attributes
[a]
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Teresa of Ávila | habit of a Carmelite nun, holding a (fiery) pen, pierced heart, arrow[a] |
| Teresa of the Andes | habit of a Carmelite nun, crucifix, crown of flowers[a] |
| Teresa Benedicta of the cross | habit of a Carmelite nun (sometimes with a yellow badge), cross, martyr's palm, book, Hebrew scroll, holding a tallit, burning bush |
| Theodore | crocodile[a] |
| Thérèse de Lisieux | many roses, sometimes entwining a crucifix[a] |
| Thomas Aquinas | monstrance, golden sun on his breast, dove, ox[a] |
| Thomas Becket | sword, and wearing chancellor's robe and neck chain[a] |
| Thomas More | axe[a] |
| Timothy | three stones and a clubclub and stones; broken image of Diana[25] |
| Trudpert | axe[a] |
| Tudwal | dragon[a] |
U
- U
Saint Urban with grapes
Saint Ursus with birds on his shoulder
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Ulrich of Augsburg | vestments of a bishop, holding a fish; at dinner with Saint Wolfgang; rewarding a messenger with a goose leg; giving a garment to a beggar; with Saint Afra; riding through a river on horseback as his companion sinks; with a cross given him by an angel[b] |
| Urban | portrayed in art after his beheading, with the papal tiara near him[a] |
| Urban of Langres | vestments of a bishop, with a bunch of grapes or a vine at his side; a book with a wine vessel on it[a] |
| Ursicinus | book and fleur-de-lis[a] |
| Ursula | arrow; banner; cloak; shot with arrows; depicted accompanied by a varied number of virgins who are being martyred in various ways; standing on a ship with her companions[a] |
| Ursus of Aosta | vestments and crozier of a bishop (sometimes embellished with bear fur; birds on his shoulder; striking water from a rock[a] |
V
- V
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The Veil of Veronica
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Valentine | birds; roses; vestments of a priest or a bishop; with a crippled person or a child with epilepsy at his feet; rooster; being beheaded; bearing a sword; holding a sun; giving sight to a blind girl[26] |
| Vedast | wolf carrying a goose in its mouth; child; bear[a] |
| Venera | crown; book; martyr's palm interlaced with a triple crown (signifying the fact that she was a virgin, an apostle of the faith, and a martyr; cross{[b] |
| Verdiana | snakes[a] |
| Veronica | Veil of Veronica[a] |
| Victor of Marseilles | windmill[a] |
| Vigilius of Trent | shoes or clogs[a] |
| Vincent de Paul | children[a] |
| Vincent Ferrer | pulpit, cardinal's hat, trumpet, captives[a] |
| Vitus | book, cross, rooster, lion, bread, cauldron, eagle, hare; holding a church model[a] |
W
- W
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Wenceslaus of Bohemia | crown, dagger[a] |
| William of Montevergine | wolf and pastoral crook[a] |
| William of York | bishop's vestments, crozier, crossing the River Tweed[a] |
| Winnoc | hand-mill, bridge, grinding corn[a] |
| Wolfgang of Regensburg | a church model with an adze lodged in the roof, a wolf[a] |
X
- X
_Liber_Chronicarum_(serietitel)%252C_RP-P-2016-49-56-9.jpg.webp)
Pope Xystus (Sixtus) with book and papal tiara
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Xenia of Saint Petersburg | walking stick[a] |
| Xystus | book, papal insignia (mostly tiara and papal ferula), martyr's palm, book[a] |
Z
- Z
Saint Zenobius resurrects a dead boy
| Saint | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Zachary | Making peace with King Luitprand. Sometimes he may have an olive branch and a dove over him [a] |
| Zenobius of Florence | vestments of a bishop; flowering tree; bringing a dead man or a boy back to life[a] |
| Zita | bag, keys[a] |
Plants in Christian iconography
In Christian iconography plants appear mainly as attributes on the pictures of Christ or the Virgin Mary. Christological plants are among others the vine, the columbine, the carnation and the flowering cross, which grows out of an acanthus plant surrounded by tendrils. Mariological symbols include the rose, lily, olive, cedar, cypress and palm. Plants also appear as attributes of saints, especially virgins and martyrs.
- Plants
Illumination of a unicorn (a symbol of the incarnation of Christ, of innocence and purity) falling asleep on the lap of a virgin. The border shows plants which symbolise the virtues of the Virgin Mary, such woodland strawberries, roses and violets; the virgin's robe is blue, a colour attributed to the Mother of God.
| Flower | Symbol | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Acacia | A symbol of the immortality of the soul | durability of the wood [d] |
| Almond | A symbol of divine approval | From the Book of Numbers "The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron's staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds." [d][27] |
| Anemone | crucifixion scenes and have been associated with the sorrow of Virgin Mary | these flowers grew at Golgotha[c] |
| Columbine | The Columbine is a symbol for victory of life over death, thus a plant assigned to Christ, furthermore a symbol of humility, the Holy Spirit and the Holy Trinity |
The name "columbine" comes from the Latin for "dove", due to the resemblance of the inverted flower to five doves clustered together.[28][c] |
| Daisy | innocence, beauty, salvation, modesty, purity and love | simplicity[c] |
| Clover | Holy Trinity, Patrick of Ireland | three petals that compose a flower [c] |
| Hyacinth | prudence, constancy, desire of heaven and peace of mind | From the story of Hyacinthus, upon whose death the flower sprung forth.[29] |
| Iris | Our Lady of Sorrows | sharp leaves like swords [c] |
| Lily | purity, Theological virtues of justice, charity and hope; also the Holy Trinity. The White Lily is specific to virginal saints, whether female or male | lilies with three petals [c] |
| Lily of the valley | chastity, humility and humbleness of Mary | |
| Palm branch | Martyrdom | symbol of victory, triumph and peace |
| Passionflower | Crucifixion of Jesus | each part of the flower represents a different aspect of the Passion of Christ[c] |
| Primula | Virgin Mary | keys of heaven |
| Rose | Mary, other virgins | the white rose symbolises innocence and faithfulness, the red rose stands for love and passion [c][30] |
| Snowdrop | Virgin Mary | symbolises hope, purity and virtue |
| Strawberry | Virgin Mary | symbolises righteousness and humility. Their flowers embody chastity, but they also became a symbol of transience and vanity. The fruit is a symbol for the Incarnation of Christ. |
| White tulip | Holy Spirit | White tulips are used to send a message of forgiveness[31] |
Further reading
- Delaney, John P. (1980). Dictionary of Saints (Second ed.). Garden City, NY: Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-13594-7.
- Lanzi, Fernando; Lanzi, Gioia (2004-09-01). Saints and their Symbols: Recognizing Saints in Art and in Popular Images. Translated by O'Connell, Matthew J. ISBN 9780814629703.
- Post, W. Ellwood (1975). Saints, Signs and Symbols (2 ed.). SPCK Publishing. ISBN 9780281028948.
- Schiller, Gertrud (1971). Iconography of Christian Art. 1. ISBN 978-0821203651.
- Walsh, Michael (2007). A New Dictionary of Saints: East and West. Liturgical Press. ISBN 978-0-8146-3186-7.
- Whittemore, Carroll E. (1980). Symbols of the Church. Abingdon Press. ISBN 0687183014.
See also
Notes
- "List of saints". Catholic Online.
- "Iconography". Christian Iconography. 2015-10-20.
- Kostka, Arun Oswin. "Flowers in Christian Symbolism".
- Gast, Walter E. (2000). "Symbols in Christian Art and Architecture".
External links
- "Christian Iconography". Augusta State University. Archived from the original on 2014-03-18.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
- "Hagiographies, hymnography, and icons for many Orthodox saints". Orthodox Church in America.
- "Saints' Badges or Shields".
References
-
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Symbolism". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. - Mayernik, David T. (2018). "A Vast, Immeasurable Sanctuary: Iconography for Churches". Sacred Architecture Journal. 5: 22.
- "Eastern Orthodox and Catholic teaching about Icons".
- Hassett, M. (1911). "Palm in Christian Symbolism". The Catholic Encyclopedia.
- Saint Jerome; St. Jerome (December 2008). Commentary on Matthew (The Fathers of the Church, Volume 117). CUA Press. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-8132-0117-7.
- Kugeares, Sophia Manoulian (1991). Images Of The Annunciation Of The Virgin Mary Of The 13th, 14th And 15th Century.
- Stracke, Richard (2015-10-20). "Hungarian Saints: Adalbert, Martin, Stanislas, Emeric and Stephen". Christian Iconography.
- Fongemie, Pauly. "SYMBOLS IN ART". Catholic tradition. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
- "L'Osservatore Romano publishes new Papal coat of arms". Catholic News Agency. 2005-04-28. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
- Libellus de principiis, citing the story of his birth
- "Saint Dorothy of Caesarea". Patron Saints Index. 2008-03-18. Archived from the original on 2008-03-18.
- Mendler, Mitch. "Saint Florian - the patron saint of the fire service". Retrieved 2019-01-16.
- Zimmerman, Julie. "Friar Jack's Catechism Quiz: Test Your Knowledge on Angels". AmericanCatholic.org. Archived from the original on 21 May 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- Ronner, John (March 1993). Know Your Angels: The Angel Almanac With Biographies of 100 Prominent Angels in Legend & Folklore-And Much More!. Murfreesboro, TN: Mamre Press. pp. 70–72, 73. ISBN 9780932945402. LCCN 93020336. OCLC 27726648. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
Artists like to show Gabriel carrying a white lily (Mary's flower), a scroll and a scepter.
- OrthodoxWiki. "Archangel Gabriel" (Internet). OrthodoxWiki. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
Because the Angels are incorporeal beings, though they nevertheless take on human form when appearing to mankind, it can be difficult to differentiate one from another in icons. However, Gabriel is usually portrayed with certain distinguishing characteristics. He typically wears blue or white garments; he holds either a lily (representing the Theotokos), a trumpet, a shining lantern, a branch from Paradise presented to him by the Theotokos, or a spear in his right hand and often a mirror—made of jasper and with a Χ (the first letter of Christ (Χριστος) in Greek)—in his left hand. He should not be confused with the Archangel Michael, who carries a sword, shield, date-tree branch, and in the other hand a spear, white banner (possibly with scarlet cross) and tends to wear red. Michael's specific mission is to suppress enemies of the true Church (hence the military theme), while Gabriel's is to announce mankind's salvation.
- "Saint of the Day, October 16". St. Patrick Catholic Church. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
- "Godehard (Gotthard) von Hildesheim". Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon (in German). Retrieved 2019-01-15.
- d, d. "Isidore and Maria, Patron Saints of Farmers". d. National Catholic Rural Life Conference. Archived from the original on 2013-04-06. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
- "Saint Kentigern". Saints.sqpn.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- Adler, Jerry; Lawler, Andrew. "How the Chicken Conquered the World". Smithsonian. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
- Rabenstein, Katherine (April 1999). "Opportuna of Montreuil, OSB". Saints O' the Day for April 22. Archived from the original on February 6, 2007. Retrieved 2012-02-24.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
- "Lives". Britannia.com.
- Baring-Gould, Sabine (1898). "The Lives of the Saints". The Lives of the Saints.
- Jameson, Anna (1857). Sacred and Legendary Art. Longman, Brown, Green. p. 648.
- "Saints Timothy & Titus", Saints, Passionist nun.
- Jones, Terry. "Valentine of Terni". Patron Saints Tom. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
- Numbers 17:1–8
- Shorter Oxford English dictionary, 6th ed. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. 2007. p. 3804. ISBN 978-0199206872.
- "Signs and Symbols". catholictradition.org. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
- Cucciniello, Lisa (2008). Rose to Rosary: The Flower of Venus in Catholicism. Rose Lore: Essays in Semiotics and Cultural History. Lexington Books. pp. 64–65.
- "Easter Flowers". flowermeaning.com. Archived from the original on 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
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