Symbols of the Saints Quiz Challenge - How Much Do You Know? | Christian People / Saints

Answer: Mark

Both the winged lion and the book are symbols associated with Saint Mark. He was born in Cyrenaica (what is now the eastern coastal region of Libya) in the 1st century. He also died there, in 68 AD, on April 25, the date on which his feast is now celebrated. He is the patron saint of Venice, Egypt and barristers.

One of the most famous artistic depictions of Mark's symbols can be seen at the Doge's Palace in Venice, "The Lion of Saint Mark" by the 15th-16th century Venetian painter Vittore Carpaccio.

Answer: Matthias

The axe is the symbol of Saint Matthias (and also one of the symbols of the Apostle Thomas). Matthias was one of those chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. Born in the Roman province of Judea, he died in 80 AD.

In addition to the American cities mentioned in the question, Matthias is also the patron saint of alcoholics, carpenters (picture clue), smallpox, tailors, hope and perseverance.

Answer: Philip

Saint Philip was born in the Roman province of Galilee, now in northern Israel, and died in 80 AD in Anatolia (what is now Asian Turkey). A major shrine to him can now be found at the Basilica Santi Apostoli in Rome. His feast day is celebrated on May 3 (Catholic), November 14 (Eastern Orthodox) or May 1 (Anglican).

Saint Philip is the patron saint of hatters, pastry chefs and the Atlantic Ocean islands of Cape Verde.

Answer: Ambrose

Aurelius Ambrosius was born in 340 in the Roman town of Augusta Treverorum located on the banks of the Moselle (now Trier in western-central Germany). Already the Roman governor of Liguria and Emilia, he became Bishop of Mediolanum (as the modern city of Milan was called by the Romans) in 374, a post he held for a quarter of a century.

Another symbol of Saint Ambrose is the beehive (photo clue) and in addition to the city of Milan he is also the patron saint of bees, bee-keepers, bishops, candle makers, domestic animals, geese, livestock, police officers, students and wax refiners.

Answer: Catherine of Alexandria

Born in 287 in the city of Alexandria in Egypt, she is known as Saint Cahterine of Alexandria and as Saint Catherine of the Wheel. Children may recognize her name from the famous Saint Catherine's Wheel firework (photo clue) that are often seen in big displays. The wheel is her most recognizable symbol: the coat of arms of St Catherine's College at Cambridge University shows a spiked 'Catherine Wheel'.

Saint Catherine has been depicted by numerous artists: perhaps the most famous is the anonymous "The Beheading of Saint Catherine" that can be seen at the Chapel of Saints Claire and Catherine at Barcelona Cathedral in Spain.

Surely one of the busiest of all saints, Saint Catherine is the patron of unmarried girls, apologists, craftsmen who work with a wheel, dying people, educators, jurists, lawyers, librarians, mechanics, millers, hat-makers, nurses, philosophers, preachers, schoolchildren, scribes, secretaries, spinsters, tanners, haberdashers and the University of Paris (and even this is not an exhaustive list).

Answer: Edmund of East Anglia

Little is known of the early life of Edmund of East Anglia, although he is believed to have been born around 841, son of Ęthelweard (an obscure East Anglian king). Now also known as Saint Edmund the Martyr, he became King of East Anglia in eastern-central England on Christmas Day 855.

The Great Heathen Army of the Danes invaded East Anglia in 869 and Edmund was killed in battle on November 20. The photo clue shows an medieval illumination depicting his death. Although Edmund's body was decimated, the remains were collected and taken to the city which now bears his name, Bury Saint Edmund. The abbey there was rebuilt in the 11th century and by the Middle Ages Edmund had become England's patron saint. Edmund's shrine and most of the records of his life were subsequently destroyed during the "Dissolution of the Monasteries" in the 16th century.

Saint George has long since replaced him as the patron saint of England, but Edmund is still the patron saint of Kings, pandemics, wolves and torture victims.

Answer: Francis of Assisi

Born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone in 1182 or 1183 in the town of Assisi in the Umbria region of central Italy, Saint Francis was canonized by Pope Gregory IX less than two years after his death in 1226. The founder of numerous orders for monks and nuns, he is credited with arranging the first Christmas nativity scene (in 1223). A year later, he is said to have received the stigmata from an apparition of angels, making him the first living person to receive the wounds of Christ's Passion.

In addition to the stigmata, symbols associated with Saint Francis include the Tau cross, dove, birds, animals and a wolf at his feet. As well as Italy, he is the patron saint of animals, the environment, merchants, stowaways, Cub Scouts, tapestry workers and San Francisco, California.

The painting pictured, which dates to 1445, is "The Stigmatization of St Francis" by the early Italian Renaissance painter Domenico Veneziano. It is part of the 'Predella' series and can be seen now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.

The stigmata is one of the symbols of Saint Francis of Assisi, and a number of artists have painted this and other scenes involving him. Other notable works of art include El Greco's "Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata" (on display at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore MD), "Saint Francis in the Desert" by Giovanni Bellini (The Frick Collection) and "Saint Francis of Assisi in Ecstasy" by Caravaggio (Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford CT).

Answer: Raphael

The picture clue is "Saint Raphael the Archangel", a 17th-century painting by Spanish Baroque artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo that can be seen at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow.

In Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Saint Raphael is traditionally an archangel who performs acts of healing. Although not specifically named, Raphael is generally assumed to be the archangel who heals the multitude of infirm at the 'Pool of Bethesda' in John's gospel. He is another busy saint, the patron of apothecaries, insanity, lovers, mental illness, nightmares, nurses, shepherds, sick people, travellers, and young people, as well as numerous U.S. cities including Madison WI, Dubuque IA and Seattle WA.

Answer: Swithun

The patron saint of rain and the weather, traditionally whatever conditions prevail on his feast day in mid-July will continue for another forty days. Shakespeare wrote a famous "Saint Swithun's Day Speech".

Born somewhere in Hampshire in the early 800s, he was Bishop of Winchester from 838 until 852. His shrine was officially moved into the new Winchester Cathedral at the end of the 11th century, although his remains were spread across various cathedrals in the south of England. Like many similar sites, his shrine in Winchester was demolished during the Reformation in the 16th century and a replica now stands on the site today.

Answer: Stephen

The photograph shows "The Stoning of Saint Stephen", painted in 1435 by the Italian artist and mathematician Paolo Uccello (which can be seen at the Duomo in Prato in central Italy). Another famous painting of Saint Stephen, depicting him with the martyr's frond and three stones, is by 15th-century Italian Renaissance artist Carlo Crivelli.

Stephen is mentioned in Acts of the Apostles as one of seven deacons appointed to distribute food and aid to the needy. His speech expressing his view of Israelite history takes up a whole chapter in the Book of Acts.

Stoned to death in Jerusalem in AD 36, Stephen's feast day is celebrated variously on December 25, 26 or 27. He is the patron saint of casket makers, deacons, headaches, masons and horses.