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14. Tree of Life

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14. Tree of Life What is a mosaic? Masolino da Panicale Who? It is a picture or pattern produced 1. Who painted the Tree of Life? by arranging together small pieces of stone, tile, glass, etc. 2. What is the purpose of the painting? The central image is one of (What key ideas does it convey?) Christ on the cross, but an 3. Where is the painting displayed? Alpha & What is an apse? What? interesting feature of this Omega 4. What is an apse? piece of art is that there are Chi-Rho An area with curved walls and a 5. What is a mosaic? many other symbolic images domed roof at the end of a church. surrounding the main frame. The Apostles The Apostles Areas to Discuss 1. Create a detailed mind-map (try to make this 1. The Alpha & Omega visual) When? Twelfth Century. 2. Chi-Rio Cross Doves 2. Create a multiple-choice quiz (aim for at least 3. The twelve apostles The 10 questions) 4. The lamb Twelve 3. Create a poster/leaflet Apostles 5. The doves Tree of life The Lamb (Jesus) 6. The four evangelists 7. The cross San Clemente church 8. The tree of life Where? in Rome 9. The Vine c) Explain the rich Christian symbolism that you will find in the Tree Of Life Apse The Twelve Apostles mosaic. [8] To depict the following: The Lamb 1. God is the first and the last. • There is reference made to the twelve Apostles who were specially chosen by 2. The battle against evil is won by the Cross of Christ. 3. Jesus sacrificed himself to save humankind. • At the bottom of the cross there Jesus to continue to spread the Good News once he had left them. Why? 4. The importance of peace for a Christian. are 12 lambs who are pointing • The apostles also lived a sacrificial life; they gave up their homes and families to The Cross 5. The importance of the four Gospels as a means to hear Jesus’ word. towards a thirteenth lamb at the follow Jesus and spread the word after his death. St Peter quite literally lost his • Christian art often focuses on the suffering and death centre of the picture directly life – he was executed in Rome. This is why they are also depicted a lambs. of Jesus but THIS IMAGE IS DIFFERENT. • Jesus is placed on a black cross but this EMPHASISES under the cross. THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE FIGURE against it. Jesus’ • This central lamb has a halo and is sacrifice is about life and hope, not death and despair. • The cross is a complete crucifixion scene with Mary and representing Christ, whom St John present either side of the cross, but this symbolic creation goes far beyond just depicting the Christians refer to as he ‘Lamb of The Doves death of Jesus. God’. • The twelve doves on the cross not only represent the twelve • The hand of God the Father can be seen at the top of apostles but also the Holy Spirit. the cross reaching down to earth from heaven handing • In the story of the Passover in the The Alpha & Omega • The Holy Spirit is often depicted as a dove. a crown to Christ. This symbolises how the Old Testament book of Exodus, a • The Holy Spirit came to the apostles at Pentecost, and filled TRANSCENDANT God become an IMMANENT God (in them with courage and they began to spread the word. the person of Jesus). • Alpha and Omega - the first and last lamb was sacrificed and its blood Chi-Rho • This is often described as the ‘Birthday of the Church’ because letters of the Greek alphabet. This is put on the doorposts of the homes without this event Christianity might not have spread. used to symbolise the belief that God • This symbol is of the Israelites. The Tree of Life is the beginning and the end of all that frequently used in • The angel of death ‘passed over’ The four evangelists • The cross emerges from a tree at its base. This is can be seen and all that can’t. Catholic Churches these houses and instead killed considered to be the tree of life. • In the book of Revelation, the Greek today on baptismal the first born sons of the • The four evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) appear • The image is, therefore, a reminder that all people throughout the scene. They are the authors of the four are saved through the crucifixion of Jesus; his letters Alpha and Omega are used candles and the priest’s Egyptians. The event is celebrated Gospels of the New Testament. They tell us about Jesus’ life death ‘healed the nations’ because he came not several time to symbolise Christ. vestments (their by Jews every year in the feast of and were instrumental in spreading the Good News. just for Jews but for everyone. • They appear at the top of the mosaic, next to the image of a • They are the first and last letters of clothing). the Passover. The Israelites had • Through his death all sins are forgiven and humans living, risen Jesus. can look forward to life after death with God. the Greek alphabet which expresses • The symbol looks like been saved from their slavery. • There are also lots of references to Genesis in the the idea of something being the letters X and P • Jesus is described as the ‘Lamb of image; the tree at the base of the cross is perhaps The Vine a reminder of the tree of knowledge of good and complete. which are the first two God’ because his death saved evil in the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve eating • In the book of Revelation, God speaks letters of the word humanity from their sin and death, • One of the most predominant features, apart from the cross itself, is the green the fruit from this tree against the wishes of God vine that wraps around the entire scene and emerges from the tree of life. was the FIRST SIN OF HUMANITY. of himself as the Alpha and Omega. Christ in Greek. just like the sacrificed lamb had • This is another reminder of the Garden of Eden and the green paradise God • The presence of the serpent wrapped around a • From early Christian times Alpha and • With the use of both of saved the Israelites. It is, created for all humanity. • The vine can also represent Christ himself who, in John’s gospel said, ‘I am the fawn this is drinking from the rivers of life seems to Omega were used to refer to Jesus. these symbols the artist therefore, fitting that this vine’ (John 15:5). confirm the link, as a serpent tempted Eve to taste • We are therefore being reminded that is emphasising the sacrificed lamb is placed under • The vine is labelled as the Church by an inscription along the band just above the fruit. the sheep: ‘We have likened the Church of Christ to this vine; the Law made it • The message is that sin ruins life on earth as well Jesus is eternal, because he is God! the cross in the mosaic. importance of Christ. wither but the Cross made it bloom.’ as the relationship between God and humans. .
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