AP Art History Christianity Terms

Trinity

The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit

Four Evangelists/ Gospels

4 main writers of the Gospels; Widely accepted accounts of the life of Christ

Matthew (One of Four Evangelists/ Gospels)

Represented as an angel or man; Symbolises the human aspect of Christ

Mark (One of Four Evangelists/ Gospels)

Represented as a lion; Symbolises triumphant Christ after resurrection)

Luke (One of Four Evangelists/ Gospels)

Represented as an ox; Symbolises Christ's sacrifice on the cross

John (One of Four Evangelists/ Gospels)

Represented as an eagle; Symbolized Christ's second coming

Immaculate Conception

conception of Virgin Mary in her mother's womb free from original sin; Mary is conceived of by normal means but God intervenes and maintains a “pure” soul for Mary

Annunciation

Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will be the virgin mother of Jesus

Christmas/ Nativity

Jesus is born in Bethlehem - Mary and Joseph search for a place to stay and end up in a manger when there is no room in inns. Angels announce the birth of Jesus to shepherds.

Adoration of Magi

3 kings see a brilliant star over Christ’s manger (placed by Heaven to commemorate Jesus’s birth). Magi come to worship Jesus and bring gifts.

Miracles

Jesus proves his divinity: resurrects the dead Lazarus; multiplies loaves of bread and fish; heals the blind; cures lepers, etc.

Giving the Keys

Jesus is aware he will die; to ensure continuity of Christianity, Jesus gives Peter the keys to Heaven; Peter is interpreted as being a Christian leader, and is the first Pope

Passions of Christ

Final period in Jesus’s life, beginning with his visit to Jerusalem and his ultimate execution by crucifixion.

Last Supper

Jesus has final meal with disciples; he institutes the Eucharist – the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ; Jesus says he knows an apostle has already betrayed him

Trials

Christ is sentenced to death for inciting the people against Rome

Stations of the Cross

After Jesus is condemned to death, he must carry his cross to Golgotha; he falls three times and is forced to wear a crown of thorns to mock him

Crucifiction

Christ is nailed to a cross and left to die

Deposition/ Decent from the Cross

Jesus’s body is removed from the cross

Lamentation

Jesus’s followers mourn him after he has been removed from the cross

Pieta

Virgin Mary cradles the dead body of Jesus (Iconic imagery associated w/ this, look it up it's pretty)

Entombment

Jesus’s body is placed in a tomb and sealed with a rock

Resurrection

Three days later, on Easter Sunday, Jesus rises from the dead

Last Judgement

This will occur after all the dead have been resurrected and a person’s soul unites with its own physical body. At this point, Christ will come again with all angels and each person will be judged a final time; this determines where a soul will rest for eternity.