Without Lifting A Finger



Evangelists' Symbols In iconography , the evangelists often appear in Evangelist portraits derived from classical tradition, and are also frequently represented by the symbols which originate from the four " living creatures " that draw the throne-chariot of God, the Merkabah , in the vision in the Book of Ezekiel (Chapter 1) reflected in the Book of Revelation (4.6-9ff), though neither source links the creatures to the Evangelists. Images normally, but not invariably, appear with wings like angels. The meanings accruing to the symbols grew over centuries, with an early formulation by Jerome , [3] and were fully expressed by Rabanus Maurus , who set out three layers of meaning for the beasts, as representing firstly the Evangelists, secondly the nature of Christ, and thirdly the virtues required of a Christian for salvation: [4] One might note that these animals may [ original research? ] have originally have been seen as representing the highest forms of the vari...