artefacts: scenes of the passion sarcophagi and paschal candle

Question 1

what has Christianity delivers expressed from very early on in the history?

Answer 1

expressed their faith through objects, from the decorations carved into sarcophagi through to the lighting of the paschal candle at easter

Question 2

what is a sarcophagi?

Answer 2

this was when in Rome, it was custom for wealthy people to be buried in stone tombs

Question 3

what were sarcophagi usually decorated with scenes from?

Answer 3

mythology and with roman gods

Question 4

who adapted the sarcophagi practise first?

Answer 4

the first christians

Question 5

why did the first christians continued to use the stone tombs?

Answer 5

to develop images that would reflect their beliefs about eternal life

Question 6

where is the sarcophagus with scenes of Jesus’ passion?

Answer 6

Museo Pio Christiano in the Vatican, Rome

Question 7

when does the sarcophagus with scenes of Jesus’ passion date back from?

Answer 7

the 4th century

Question 8

what are the sarcophagus with scenes of Jesus’ passion variety of images reinforce?

Answer 8

the belief that Jesus’ death and resurrection was a triumph over sin and a sign of hope

Question 9

what does the sarcophagus with scenes of Jesus’ passion entire decoration based on?

Answer 9

on the passion and resurrection of Jesus

Question 10

what did the early Christian period relied on?

Answer 10

the believers were working out ways of visually showing their religion
relied on the example of art around them and biblical stories

Question 11

one one panel, what is there an illustration of?

Answer 11

Simon of Cyrene helping to carry Jesus’ cross to the crucifixion

Question 12

what does the next panel show Jesus being given a?
why did the soldiers mock him for?

Answer 12

given a crown of thorns by the soldiers guarding him to mock him as he was accused of calling himself king of the jews

Question 13

what does the crown of thorn filled with jewels in the image symbolise?

Answer 13

that Jesus’ death was actually a triumph over sin

Question 14

what is another panel show Jesus being presented for?

Answer 14

trial before the roman governor Pontius Pilate

Question 15

next scene, why was the pilate pressured of the crowd for?

Answer 15

pilate did not want to execute Jesus but gave in to the pressure of crowd and jewish authorities

Question 16

why did the pilate wash his hands?

Answer 16

to symbolise that he wouldn’t take responsibility for crucifying Jesus

Question 18

why was jesus not shown hanging on the cross?

Answer 18

early Christians did not depict Jesus either as
dead or in suffering.

Question 19

what does the ‘chi-rho’ symbol represent?

Answer 19

standing for jesus
an ancient symbol of the resurrection

Question 20

how is the ‘chi-rho’ symbol formed?

Answer 20

from the first two letters of the title ‘Christ in Greek
(Chi = X, Rho = P), merged together they form the ‘Chi-Rho’

Question 21

where is the chi-rho symbol placed?

Answer 21

placed within a wreath that is held in the beaks of two eagles.

Question 22

what is the wreath a roman symbol of?

Answer 22

victory

Question 23

what do the eagles represent and shows?

Answer 23

represent God because in Roman religion they were used to represent the God Jupiter. This shows the fact that Jesus’s death was a victory over sin and death.

Question 24

what do the cross sits above two soldiers who are looking up at it in wonder express?

Answer 24

the hope in life after death that Jesus achieved through his sacrifice and resurrection.

Question 25

when is the paschal candle used?

Answer 25

during Easter week in the church

Question 26

what does the paschal candle symbolise?

Answer 26

symbolises the fact that Jesus resurrection was a triumph over death.

Question 27

where is the paschal candle lit?

Answer 27

at the Easter Vigil (the night before Easter Sunday).

Question 28

what happens at the beginning of the easter vigil?

Answer 28

the church is in darkness

Question 29

what happens outside of church?

Answer 29

a fire is lit and the Easter (Paschal) Candle is lit from that fire and processed (walked through) into the church.

Question 30

how many times is the candle raised and what is the chant?

Answer 30

three times with the chant “The light of Christ” and people respond, “Thanks be to God”.

Question 31

what does the candle being raised symbolise?

Answer 31

symbolises that light of Christ overcoming the ‘darkness of sin’.

Question 32

what is the procession completed with?

Answer 32

with an ancient hymn, called the Exultet, which proclaims Christ’s triumph over sin because his resurrection defeats death.

Question 33

what does the paschal calender represents?

Answer 33

represents Jesus’ light overcoming sin and death.

Question 34

what is the paschal calender decorated with?

Answer 34

is decorated with symbols

Question 35

the alpha and omega:
1. what are they considered in the greek alphabet?
2. what do they symbolise?

Answer 35

1. These are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet.
2. They symbolise Christ as the ‘first and the last’; the beginning of all things and the
   ‘end’ of all things.

Question 36

why is the cross a symbol of christian faith?

Answer 36

1. This is the symbol of Christian faith because it is due to the crucifixion of Christ that the resurrection was possible.

Question 37

why is the flame representing jesus as the light of the world?

Answer 37

It shows that lesus’ sacrifice overcame sin and death.

Question 38

what does the 5 wounds that has 5 studs represent?

Answer 38

the five wounds Jesus received during his crucifixion.

Question 39

the year:
1. how is the candle marked every year?
2. what does this remind jesus of?

Answer 39

1. Each year the candle is marked with that particular year.
2. It reminds people that Jesus is the same for all time and that the salvation earned by Jesus is as real now as it was in the past.