"Church Symbolism: An Explanation of the More Important Symbols of the Old and New Testament, the Primitive, the Medieval and the Modern Church" by F. R. Webber is an authoritative and comprehensive guide to the rich tapestry of symbols that have been used throughout the history of the Christian Church. Webber, an esteemed scholar and historian, provides readers with an in-depth understanding of the significance and evolution of these symbols from...

Saints, Signs, and Symbols, which was first published in 1962, contains in compact form all the main symbols used in the Church, complete with notes on their origin, meaning, and colouring. Of particular interest is the section on the Saints, which includes brief biographical details of each. This is an indispensable handbook for teaching at all age levels. -Kirkus Review

Robert Eisler's "Orpheus - The Fisher: Comparative Studies in Orphic and Early Christian Cult Symbolism" offers a profound exploration into the intricate and symbolic worlds of Orphic and early Christian traditions. In this scholarly yet accessible work, Eisler delves into the deep connections and shared motifs between these two ancient belief systems, uncovering the rich tapestry of symbolism that underlies their rituals, myths, and spiritual teachings. Eisler...

Within the Eastern tradition of Christianity, the eikon, or religious image, has long held a place of honor. In the greater part of Western Christianity, however, discomfort with images in worship, both statues and panel icons, has been a relatively common current, particularly since the Reformation. In the Roman Catholic Church, after years of using religious statues, the Second Vatican Council's call for "noble simplicity" in many cases led to a...

In our increasingly secular world, what good are the church's sacred practices, and why do they even matter anymore? With insight, wit, and unsparing honesty, Benjamin Dueholm in this book explores the crucial place and power of Christian practices in ordinary, everyday life. Drawing on modern-day realities and ancient roots, firsthand experience and centuries of history, pop culture and high theology, Dueholm offers a visionary account of the critical,...

Secluded within cloister walls, a painter and a monk, and brother of the order of the Dominicans, Angelico devoted his life to religious paintings. Little is known of his early life except that he was born at Vicchio, in the broad fertile valley of the Mugello, not far from Florence, that his name was Guido de Pietro, and that he passed his youth in Florence, probably in some bottegha, for at twenty he was recognized as a painter. In 1418, he entered...

"On Divers Arts, c. 1122, is the oldest extant manual on artistic crafts to be written by a practicing artist ... On Divers Arts describes actual 12-century techniques in painting, glass, and metalwork ... This translation of the medieval manuscript most essential to an understanding of pre-Renaissance art and technology is the result of a collaboration between a Latin scholar and a metallurgist. Their fully annotated edition presents complete bibliographic...

In this four-color illustrated journey that is part travelogue and part theological investigation, bestselling author and acclaimed Bible scholar John Dominic Crossan and his wife Sarah painstakingly travel throughout the ancient Eastern church, documenting through text and image a completely different model for understanding Easter's resurrection story, one that provides promise and hope for us today. Traveling the world, the Crossans noticed a surprising...

'Art, my dear boy,' said Mr Askern, 'especially sacred art, needs tradition. Tradition is the bedrock of our art . . .' He broke off, staring at the woman in front of him. Her face seemed to lose all definition and her skin turned an unnatural shade of putty-coloured grey. 'Art,' she said, her voice scarcely more than a whisper. 'Art! Oh my God, art!' She swayed dangerously. Jack leapt forward, catching her as she fell. Jack Haldean expected Lythewell...