Saint symbology

Christianity has used symbols from its very beginnings. ["Catholic Encyclopedia", [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14373b.htm article Symbolism] ] Each saint has a story and a reason why he or she led an exemplary life. Symbols have been used to tell these stories throughout the history of the Church. 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. 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. They are often carried in the hand by the saint. 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 - as of course can Christ. In the case of later saints their actual historical appearance can also be used. Some attributes are general, like the palm frond carried by martyrs.

The lives of most saints are far removed from an ordinary worshipper’s life. The use of a symbol in a statue, or painting, of a saint reminds people who is being shown and of their story. The following is a list of some of these attributes.

The list

A

D

G

J

M

P

S

V

Y

Z

ee also

* List of canonizations, for a list of Catholic canonizations by date
* Calendar of saints
* Doctor of the Church
* Patron saint
* Martyrology
*
* Iconography
* Christian symbolism
* Four Evangelists and Evangelist portrait
* Christianized myths and imagery

References

* [http://www.catholic.org/saints/stindex.php Catholic Online list of saints]
* [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/indexsnt.htm Catholic Forum patron saint index]
* [http://www.angelusonline.org/Article2283-thread-order1-threshold0.phtml On the Canonizations of John Paul II]
* [http://www.oca.org/FSlives.asp?SID=4 Hagiographies, hymnography, and icons for many Orthodox saints] from the website of the Orthodox Church in America.
* [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/indexsnt.htm Catholic Forum Patron Saints Index]

External links

* [http://www.aug.edu/augusta/iconography/index.html Christian Iconography] from Augusta State University - alphabet of saints
* [http://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/blchristiansymbols3.htm symbols]
* [http://www.angelfire.com/me4/saints/index.html Saints' Badges or Shields]