The Four Faces.

Those who know me may also know that for a long time I have had an interest in learning some things about Church and Christian symbology. It is called “Iconology”, and at various times in history these symbols were systematically destroyed by people who were known as “iconoclasts”.

These Christian symbols can be seen almost everywhere in traditional church buildings. And in times gone by they served the purpose of teaching people about Bible stories, themes and principles. In days gone by it was quite common for people to be unable to neither read nor write, so the symbols on the doorways and windows served to teach the stories from the Bible by illustration. Remember the old adage, “A picture paints a thousand words”?

And although the practise of symbology is largely dying away I still love to go around these old cathedrals and older buildings and look for the signs and symbols that can show and teach lessons from the Bible.

One group of symbols that I came across were that of a group of four faces. One was of an Ox. One was of a Lion. One was of an Eagle and the last one was of a Man and they were etched into glass panels in a church I was attending. These are a very ancient set of symbols and have been used many times in churches. But I just never knew to look for them before.

By sheer coincidence I noticed these at a time when I was getting into the more serious aspects of Bible study. Up until this time I had really only did a daily-reading type of method, or a very simple topical study but had never really applied myself to looking at the deeper teachings of the Bible. I had been equipping myself with study bibles and cross referencing books and as I read more fully, certain aspects and teachings which had previously been hidden from me began to appear.

I had started to read the Book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament when almost immediately I read about the vision of the Four Faces. Chapter 1 Verse 10 reads…..

Ezekiel ch1 (10)As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle.

I thought to myself, “Hold on a moment. I have seen these symbols somewhere. In the glass panels of the church”. I read the passage several more times and on my next visit to the church I studied the panels even more. They even have a big name allocated to them - The Tetramorph (from the Greek tetra, meaning four, and morph, meaning form, or shape). And when I read more about these symbols I learned that they are symbols representing the Four Gospels.

Matthew - The Man - Representing Christ’s humanity.
Mark - The Lion - Representing Christ’s royal dignity.
Luke - The Ox - Represents Christ as a Sacrifice.
John - The Eagle - Represents Christ as He has been revealed to us from above.

These visions were seen again by the Apostle John while he was in exile on the island of Patmos….

Revelation ch4 (7)The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.

And so, my journey into church and christian symbology and iconology began.

I’ve seen these symbols in many small churches and cathedrals. Some of the images are carved onto stone. Sometimes they are seen in stained glass windows, particularly where there are four windows grouped together. And they fascinate me.

Over the years I have noticed these symbols more and more. That first particular church building no longer exists now. But I have seen the tetramorph in many other locations, ie, mosaic designs placed onto the floor of Down Cathedral in Downpatrick in Northern Ireland. As stained glass panels fitted into a “rood screen” in Sinclair Seaman’s Presbyterian Church in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The oldest one I have seen is in a christening font at the front of St Bartholomew’s Church in Orford, Suffolk, England. The font is very old and the carved icons have been partially worn away. I have seen many more but their locations have been forgotten for now. They will come back to me.

They are sometimes located somewhere near the entrance of a church lending to the notion that the four Gospels are where we first encounter the message of Christ. In many cases they have been carved onto the christening font which is sometimes also located near the entrance of a church and they signify that the Gospels are the first thing we hear and are taught when we enter our Christian journey. In Downpatrick Cathedral they are located on the floor which lends to the notion that The Gospels should guide is in our journey with Christ.

Infact the whole of the Old Testament Tabernacle and priesthood are all symbols and icons of God as He had been revealed to the Children of Israel at that time.

John ch5 (39)You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

So, if you ever get to visit an old church or cathedral do take the time to look around at the windows and carvings. Most of the time they are memorials to people who were benefactors and contributors to the church in times gone past. Or sometimes they are indicative of various characters from the Bible, ie, Paul, The Apostles, etc. And sometimes they depict Bible stories and accounts ie, David and Goliath, The Good Samaritan, etc.

But I do find it so very interesting to look around these places and see what symbols I can discover.

To God be the glory, great things He has done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life to redeem us from sin,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.

Great things He has taught us, great things He has done.
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see.

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