Religion

Saint John Evangelist(c.15 - c.100)

John is symbolised by a chalice and a serpent; this is derived from a story which dates from the 13th Century in which he was forced to drink a cup full of poison, from which he ordered the poison to rise in the shape of a snake.

st john

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux(1090 - 1153)

Bernard is often portrayed with a beehive to symbolise his sweet eloquence. A quote by third Century stoic Epictetus is associated with Bernard: "SVBSTINE ET ABSTINE" (to bear and forbear or to suffer and abstain).

st bernard

Bernard was delegated by the pope to preach the Second Crusade:

Fly then to arms; let a holy rage animate you in the fight, and let the Christian world resound with these words of the prophet, "Cursed be he who does not stain his sword with blood!"

Bernard is the last guide for Dante in The Divine Comedy.

Saint Julian Hospitaller(Debated)

Julian is usually portrayed with a sword and falcon - a reminder of the fact that he inadertently commited patricide after returning from a hunt.

st bernard

Julian is the topic of a story by Flaubert, given the detailed information above the ending of the story fits here:

Et voilà l'histoire de saint Julien l'Hospitalier telle à peu près qu'on la trouve, sur un vitrail d'église, dans mon pays.

Mary

mary

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