Light and its Symbolism in the Religious Art of Christianity

@  Fatemeh Lajevardi / Assistant Professor of Religions and Mysticism, Faculty of Law, Theology and Political Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. (Corresponding Author) Lajavardi.ft@gmail.com               

Shahram Pazouki / Associate Professor of Religions and Mysticism, Faculty of Law, Theology and Political Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Tahereh Haj Ebrahimi / Associate Professor of Religions and Mysticism, Faculty of Law, Theology and Political Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Zeinab Bani Asad / PhD Student in Religion and Mysticism, Faculty of Law, Theology and Political Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2020/08/12 - Accepted: 2021/01/03

Abstract

Almost in all religions, holy issues have been described as a form of light. In all religions, light and its related elements have had a special place in mythology and rituals, and have eventually led to religious art. In Christianity, God is absolute illumination. In the Bible, the Messiah introduces himself as light, and there is a symbolic description that states: “I am the light of the world”, whoever follows me will not remain in darkness; because the life-giving light illuminates the path." At the beginning of the Christian era, illumination either played the role of a mediator between God and the world or was itself a symbol of God's existence. Considering this important tradition of light, it is not surprising that one of the most influential sources in Christian art, especially in the symbolism of light, is the New Testament. A careful investigation of the symbols of light in Christianity including aureole, icons and the use of the element of illumination in Christian architecture can clearly show the influence of other ancient religions and cultures, especially Judaism and Greco-Roman culture in whose context Christianity flourished.

Keywords: light, the Messiah, religious art, aureole, icons, the Bible.