Taking a moment to pause and contemplate the symbols and decoration in the architecture around us is like pausing for a moment in a quiet garden. But many of the plants we see, we do not recognize or understand why they are in a church. This month, we would like to take a moment to identify and dive into the symbolism behind the leaves, flowers, and vines we see in church architecture.
Acanthus
The acanthus leaf, known best for adorning the Corinthian capital, is native to the Mediterranean basis and other warms climates like those in southern Asia. The origin of acanthus capitals is rather contentious today, but, according to Vitruvius, acanthus mollis is said to have inspired Callimachus, an early architect, for the way the weight and stature of its leaves curled down to form volutes reminiscent of the existing Ionic order. However it truly happened, the Corinthian order was born and continues to adorn buildings, furniture, decoration, and even illuminated manuscripts. Rather than possessing a clear spiritual symbol, the acanthus leaf provides a connection to the virtues of antiquity, in whatever capacity was understood at the time, as well as simply an aesthetic choice.
Left: Acanthus mollis flowering | Right: Corinthian capital from the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
In the Byzantine empire, acanthus could have been a connection to Rome and an assertion of the empire’s continuation of their power. In the high and late Middle Ages, it could have been an assertion of the inheritance of the power and blessings of antiquity upon Christendom. And in Renaissance Italy, it certainly would have been an assertion of the link between various city states or individuals and their connection to Rome, thereby legitimizing their power. In this way, the meaning of the acanthus has changed as our view of antiquity has changed. Today, acanthus is chosen primarily for a connection to the democratic and noble ideals of ancient Greece, as well as for its beauty belonging to the feminine order, a Victorian concept of classification.
Palms
Palms (or, as a smaller decorative element, palmettes) are another candidate that vie as the origins of the Corinthian capital. Some historians claim it is the palmette that inspired the acanthus motif and droops down to form a volute plant on the capital. Palms are found in the Mediterranean so it is plausible but still disputed. Beloved for its fronds splaying across a surface, a palmette is an elegant way of adorning architecture with natural forms. But more than this, the palm has deep symbolic meaning.
Palm decoration from San Joselito Chapel
The palm is decidedly present in the decoration of antiquity, as far back as ancient Egypt. It, along with the similarly shaped lotus and papyrus plants, adorns Egyptian capitals, walls, and in the hands of small attendants, frames pharaohs and gods. Symbolizing abundance of resources, the beauty of nature, and triumph in the ancient world, the palm endured throughout civilization as a timeless motif. It was adopted by the early Christians on what is now Palm Sunday, heralding Jesus’ triumphant entrance to Jerusalem. The palm also represents the triumph of the faithful souls over death, thus it serves as a symbol for martyrdom and is held by martyrs in art and sculpture.
In keeping with the ancient symbol of abundance, across several cultures and faiths, including Christianity, the palm represents paradise. It adorns heavenly scenes and images of the Holy Land, reminding us of the abundance of love and peace that awaits.
Flowers
There is a wealth of symbolism behind flowers. Their meanings stretch back across time and cultures, from beyond recorded history into folklore and oral traditions to the complex Victorian “flower language” that gave secret meanings to individual blooms or whole bouquets. But the two most famous across the West are easily the lily and the rose.
In the Christian faith, the lilium longiflorum, or Easter lily, symbolizes innocence, chastity, and rebirth. This makes them preferred flowers for Christ’s resurrection at Easter as well as symbols in artwork of the Virgin Mary. Lilies are also common for funerals for their symbol of the soul returning to innocence.
Left: Chancel from Belmont Chapel with lilies | Right: Bouts, The Annunciation, 1475 oil on panel, Cleveland Museum of Art with lilies in bottom right
The other flower of great note is the rose. We all know the rose is also a popular symbol for love, devotion, and beauty, but it goes deeper in the Christian tradition. One name for Mary is Mystical Rose, the Rosary is a collection of prayers that spiritually offers Mary a garland of flowers, and St. Therese of Lisieux called herself God’s little flower and made specific use of roses as symbols for love and being a faithful child of God. With such an abundance of symbolism in the rose, this beautiful, intricate flower continues to adorn churches, icons, and decorations across the world.
Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe with the back wall and frame decorated with Castilian roses from her mantel.
Olives
As a staple of mediterranean life since Minoan Greece, olives carry many meanings. Olives were of course eaten, but also crushed into oil for use in food, hygiene, and lighting. A tree will only produce fruit after a few years, meaning that planting a tree is an investment far into the future. These trees are some of the most resilient on the planet and thrive in hot, dry climates like much of the Mediterranean. Thus, cultures have used these trees to symbolize deep ancestral roots, heritage, and blessings from the gods.
The Greeks believed that, in a contest between Poseidon and Athena for claiming a new city, Athena planted an olive tree that far outweighed Poseidon’s spring of saltwater in value. Thus, the Acropolis marks the supposed location where olives were first introduced to the world, and the city took on the goddess’ name: Athens.
Pew from Belmont Chapel with olive branch decoration
In the Christian tradition, Noah’s sign for land and God’s peace across the world was an olive branch borne over the water by a dove. The promised land in Deuteronomy is filled with olive groves and, before His death, Jesus took refuge for prayer in Gethsemane, a grove at the base of the Mount of Olives. Chrism, a mix of olive oil and balsam, has been used for blessings, baptisms, and the sacraments for centuries. From the ancients to today, olives have been at the heart of religious symbols and rituals; it is no wonder this symbol for peace and blessings continues to grace our churches.
Wheat & Grape Vines
“Fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.” – part of the Offertory Prayers from the Roman Catholic Mass
Left: Chancel decoration with wheat from First Church of Christ in Woodbridge | Right: Chancel border decoration with grape vines at Belmont Chapel
Grapes, since the advent of wine in the Mediterranean, have held deep spiritual significance. The act of crushing ripe fruit, hops, or wheat and using it to create wine or another good made an impression on many cultures, namely the Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans. A cluster of grapes could symbolize abundance, sacrifice, or the harvest and was often associated with the death and rebirth of a god. Cults dedicated to Dionysus (Greek name) or Bacchus (Roman name), the Egyptian god Osiris, and many others, sprang up with wine, beer, or other products at the center of their rituals.
Christianity has an immense connection to grapes as the precursor to wine and the Eucharistic miracle. Similar to the symbolism of wheat being turned to bread, grapes in an artistic setting directly symbolize the Eucharist and Christ as the “true vine” from the Gospel of John. When we see grape vines and clusters, it is not only an appreciation for the beauty of cultivation and nature, is it a direct callback to the Last Supper and the spiritual provenance within every place of worship.
Man has always had a love of nature. This love transformed to love of our Creator and the world He created, thus it has manifested into beauty in our built environment and especially our churches. Whether we try to perfect, imitate, or showcase nature, our buildings should be beautiful and worthy of the natural world that God and our forebears have entrusted to us.
