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Posted on 06/30/2008 10:43:44 PM PDT by annalex
This is a *great* thread, thank you so much for posting it!
My hand was kind of forced, but I am glad you liked it.
Agree - great post annalex and I’d love to see more.
The Symbolism idea mentioned by a few posters would also make a great thread - very indepth and might deserve it’w own.
Coincidentally, I just borrowed a book yesterday by F.R.Webber called Church Symbolism - 2nd edition revised) 1938. Here’s a little from the book - couldn’t find it online..sorry if it’s messy (I butchered the poor man’s words may he RIP) but I’m in a hurry....
The Four Rivers (based on the Vision of St. John on Patmos) - usually shown flowing from the Throne of the Lamb of God. The River Gihon is ascribed to St Mathew, The River Tigris to St Mark, the River Euphrates to St Luke and the River Pison to St John. They represent the Four Gospels, flowing from the Throne of God, to irrigate the earth with the waters of life.
The Four Urns each held by a human figure representing the Four Evangelists. The urns are inclined, and our of each flows the living water, symbolical of the Gospel.
The Four Books - Cross Patee [Patee <-needs an ‘acute’ sign which I don’t have] is shown, and in each of its corners is an open book, surrounded by a nimbus. Surrounding the Cross Patee [sic]is the circle of Eternity, and around that is the square symbolizing the earth, which in ancient poetry and art was supposed to have four proverbial corners. The Symbol seems to teach us that the Gospels given us by the Four Inspired Evangelists shall exist forever upon earth. Verbum Dei manet in aeternum!
The Four Fountains Four fountains, treated as in heraldry and represent the life-giving nature of the writings of the Four Evangelists. In stained glass work one sometimes sees the full-length figures of the Four Evangelists, each with his proper winged creature at his feet or else with a small shield beneath his feet, bearing his traditioinal symbol.
The Four Pillars - seen at “Notre Dame de la Belle Verriere” and depicted as a square medallion representing the Four Evangelists as four pillars, upheld by angels, supporting the throne of Heaven.
I can only credit the author as previously noted above. (someone will probably find it online tomorrow - :))
The Book of Kells also has the Four Evangelists portrayed with wings and halos depicting them as saints and belonging to God.
St. Matthew, first Gospel, is depicted as a ‘man’, representing the birth of Christ in human form.
St. Mark, second Gospel is shown as the lion - heralding the coming of the kingdom - representing the Resurrection.
St. Matthew, author of the first Gospel, is illustrated as a ‘man’, representing the birth of Christ in human form.
http://www.catholic-forum.com/churches/858stmark/lionlogo.htm
I think Rembrandt did a painting of St. Mathew as a ‘man’...
The Tridentine Mass has a lot of Symbolism with signs from the priests etc. - every little gesture from the priests, every candlestick and how many, every candle and how many, every blessing, even the placement of the Holy Bible, all mean a significant something - and always to do with adoring and revering - THE LAMB OF GOD - JESUS CHRIST.
And St. Evangelist John is Eagle.
The evangelist symbols were widespread throughout the Middle Ages. Their icons — either portraitic or symbolic — belong in the main dome of an Orthodox Church. The two of them, St. Luke and St. Mark who were not among the Twelve, — are also often shown among the Apostles, for example in the Communion of the Apostles icon.
We should do a thread on Byzantine iconography, and another on Carolingian manuscripts, and on Romanesque architecture. That will convert everyone to Catholic Orthodox Christianity, hasten the coming of the Kingdom, and save the doubting pagans.
“And St. Evangelist John is Eagle”
Great information here by an S.J. Ph.D...
The Eagle represented the Ascension of Christ. It was thought that only the eagle, out of all living creatures, could look into the sun and not be dazzled.
http://catholic-resources.org/Art/Evangelists_Symbols.htm
“We should do a thread on Byzantine iconography, and another on Carolingian manuscripts, and on Romanesque architecture. That will convert everyone to Catholic Orthodox Christianity, hasten the coming of the Kingdom, and save the doubting pagans.”
lol - great points. I just read recently about a baptisimal discovered in Israel (not the first), a small room, too small for immersions, and just enough for the font. I guess the word didn’t dribble down to the mass’s. Again, the problem with solo Scripture. Keep them focused..
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“And St. Evangelist John is Eagle”
Eagle;
Our Lord,
Eagle lectern: flight of the Gospel throughout the earth, St. John.
Closed Book: Closed with an eagle on it: St John
Hand: Palm upward: invitation,
Sun:
Splendor,
The Father,
Sun Rising: the Advent of Our Lord
Taken from -
Church Symbolism: F.R.Webber revised edition 1938
Great pictures!
St Mathew
Angel with trumpeter: Resurrection Day...
Plate 18. The Virgin and Child. Iconographically this miniature is connected with the analogous work of 1317 by Toros Taronatsi, which the painter based on his iconographic version called the "Milk-feeder". Later this iconographic version was changed and finally the version by Grigor Tatevatsi's pupil appeared.
Mark the Evangelist Artist - Grigor Tatevatsi, 1378 Gospel, 1297 A specific type of iconography of the evangelists was adopted in Syuniq of the XIV - XV centuries, especially in Gladzor and later in Tatev as well as in a group of manuscripts related to those centers. Of the above-mentioned centers, this type appeared in Gladzor manuscripts of the end of the XIII and beginning of the XIV centuries. Similar evangelists may be found in the miniatures of Grigor Tatevatsi, and later in the works of the Anonymous Painter of Syuniq, plate 26). Grigor Tatevatsi and the Anonymous Painter of Syuniq were persons of bright individuality, thus each of their works is not simply a copy of the other, but an artistic embodiment of the model. Not much symbolism in this Armenian portrayal of Mark.
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