Saint symbolism has been used from the very beginnings of the religion. Each saint is said to have led an exemplary life and symbols have been used to tell these stories throughout the history of the Church. A number of Christian saints are traditionally represented by a symbol or iconic motif associated with their life, termed an attribute or emblem, in order to identify them. The study of these forms part of iconography in art history. They were particularly used so that the illiterate could recognize a scene, and to give each of the Saints something of a personality in art. They are often carried in the hand by the Saint.

Attributes often vary with either time or geography, especially between Eastern Christianity and the West. Orthodox images more often contained inscriptions with the names of saints, so the Eastern repertoire of attributes is generally smaller than the Western. Many of the most prominent saints, like Saint Peter and Saint John the Evangelist can also be recognised by a distinctive facial type. Some attributes are general, such as the martyr's palm. The use of a symbol in a work of art depicting a Saint reminds people who is being shown and of their story. The following is a list of some of these attributes.

Saints listed by name

Saints (I–P)

Saints (Q–Z)

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Saint SymbolAbanoub kneeling in prayer while angels bring wreaths of flowers Abdon and Sennen in fur tunicsAbercius of Hieropolis crosier brought to him by an angelAbraham of Arbelasword near himAbraham the Poor an old hermit clothed in skins and sporting a blowing beard; in his cell with his niece Mary in an adjoining cellAbundius bishop with a stag, raising a dead child to lifeAcathius of Melitenecrown of thornsAcisclus with Saint Victoria, his sister, crowned with rosesAccursiusFranciscan with a sword in his breastAdalard of CorbieBishop giving almsAdalbero of Würzburg Holding a church in his handAdalbert spears, bishop clothes, book, paddle, Rarely even scales or Paladium of BohemiaAdèle de Batz de Trenquelléon Religious habit of the Marianist SistersAdjutorthrowing his chains into whirlpoolAdolph Kolping cassock with black zucchettoAdrian of Batanealion by his sideAdrian and Natalia of Nicomedia in armor, holding a hammer and anvilÆlfheah of CanterburyaxeAelred of Rievaulx crozier of an abbot, holding a bookAemilian of Cogolla habit of a monk, on horsebackÆthelred and Æthelberht in royal attire, sometimes with swordsÆthelthryth holding a model of Ely CathedralAfra being burned at the stakeAgatha of Sicily tongs or shears, veil, bells, two breasts on a plateAgathius martyr's palm, soldier's attire with a bunch of thorns, in armor with standard and shield, with Theodore of AmaseaAgnello of Naples Habit of a Basilian monkAgnes of Montepulciano Lily and a lambStracke, Richard. "Saint Agnes of Montepulciano: The Iconography", Christian IconographyAgnes of Rome lamb, martyr's palm, swordAgostina Livia Pietrantoni Religious habit of a Sister of Divine CharityAgricola of Avignon storkAgrippina of Mineo martyr's palmAichardus Angel touching monks with a staffAidan of Lindisfarne giving his horse to a poor manHusenbeth, Frederick Charles. Emblems of the Saints, Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, 1860Aignan of Orleans praying on the top of the walls of OrléansAimée-Adèle Le Bouteiller Religious habit of the Sisters of Marie Madeleine PostelAimone Taparelli Dominican habitAlban tall cross and a swordAlban of Mainz holding his own head in his handsAlbert Chmielowski priest's attireAlbert of LouvainCardinal seated with three swords on the ground before himAlbert of Trapani Carmelite habit, lily, book, devil, with Angelus of Jerusalem,Alberto da Bergamo Dominican habit, doveAlberto Hurtado Jesuit habit, an old green vanAlbertus Magnus Dominican habit, books and scrolls, writing with a quillAlcide-Vital Lataste Dominican habitAldebrandus episcopal robes, holding a cathedralAlexander of Bergamo soldier, military standard, bearing white lilyAlexandra of Rome crownAlexius of Rome man lying beneath a staircaseAlexius, Metropolitan of Kiev Vested wearing bishop's omophorion and patriarch's koukoulion. Sometimes holding a Gospel Book with his right hand raised in blessingAlfie Lambe rosary, vexillium legionisAlfonsa Clerici Religious habit of a Sister of the Most Precious BloodAlfonso Maria Fusco cassockAlfred the Greatcodex, crown, orb/scepterAlojs Andritzki cassockAlonso de Orozco Mena Augustinian habit, crucifixAloysius Gonzaga crucifix, lilyAloysius Schwartz cassock, rosaryAlphonsa of the Immaculate Conception rosary, bible in handsÁlvaro of Córdoba (Dominican) Dominican habitAlypius the Stylite clothed in his monastic habit, standing atop a pillarAmabilis of Riom bishop listening to an angel playing musicAmalberga of Maubeuge holding an open book and with a crown on her headAmalberga of Temse sturgeonAmandus holding a church buildingAmaro pilgrim's staffAmato Ronconi Franciscan habit, staffAmator bishop with axe and treeAmbrose of Optina clothed as a monk, sometimes holding a scrollAmbrosebees, beehive, dove, ox, penAmphibalus cloakMaria Berenice Hencker Religious habit of the Little Sisters of the Annunciation, crucifixAna Monteagudo Ponce de Leon Dominican habitAna Petra Pérez Florido Religious habitAnastasia of Sirmium palm branch, martyr's cross, medicine potAnatolius of Constantinople Vested as a bishop with omophorion, holding a Gospel BookAndeolus holding a book and palm of martyrdom, head pierced by a wooden knifeAndré Abellon Dominican habitAndrea Bertoni Servite habitAndrea Caccioli Franciscan habitAndrea dei Conti Franciscan habit, purple stoleAndré-Hubert Fournet priest's attireAndrei Rublev clothed as an Orthodox monk, often shown holding an iconAndrés Hibernón Real Franciscan habitAndrés Manjón priest's cassockAndrew of Crete as a bishop, holding a gospel book or scroll, with his right hand raised in blessing, with a full head of grey hair and a long, tapering grey beardAndrew of Montereale Augustinian habit, bible, stoleAndrew Stratelates soldier holding a pilumAndrew the Apostle a saltireCudith Calvert, "The Iconography of the St. Andrew Auckland Cross", The Art Bulletin 66.4 (December 1984:543–555) p. 545, note 12, citing Louis Réau, Iconographie de l'art chrétien III.1 (Paris) 1958:79.Andrew the Scot curing a paralytic girl; sometimes shown appearing to a sleeping priest; Irish WolfhoundAndrew Zorard walnuts, eagle, chain, axe, rocksAndrey Bogolyubsky clothed as a Russian Grand Prince, holding a three-bar cross in his right handAndronicus of Pannonia laurel wreath as a symbol of martyrdomAndronicus, Probus, and Tarachus Andronicus elderly, in the robes of a Roman citizen, with a spear, the companions with martyrs' crosses or spearsAngadrisma her face scarred by leprosyAngel of Portugal Archangel carrying the Portuguese ShieldÁngela Ginard Martí Religious habit, martyr's palmAngela Merici cloak, ladderAngela of Foligno Religious habitAngelo Agostini Mazzinghi flowers, wreath, rosary, crucifix, Carmelite habitAngelo Carletti di Chivasso Franciscan habitAngelo da Foligno Augustinian habitAngelo da Furci Augustinian habit, crucifixAngelo Paoli Carmelite habitAngelus of Jerusalem Carmelite habit, sword through chest, book, palm, three crowns, lilies, rosesAnna Kolesárová Martyr's palm, Lily flower, RosaryAnna Maria Adorni Botti Religious habit, crucifixAnna Maria Janer Anglarill Religious habitAnna Maria Rubatto Religious habitAnna Maria Taigi sun, bright globe, Triniatrian scapularAnne, grandmother of Jesusdoor, book, with the Virgin Mary reading, red robe and green mantleAnne Catherine Emmerich bedridden with bandaged head and holding a crucifixAnne de Guigné lily flower, rosaryAnne of Saint Bartholomew Religious habitAnne-Marie Rivier Religious habitAnnibale Maria di Francia Religious habit of the Rogationist FathersSchäfer, Joachim. Hannibal Maria di Francia, in Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon, 5 July, 2024Annunciata Astoria Cocchetti Religious habit of the Sisters of Saint Dorothy of CemmoAnsanus holding a cluster of dates, a heart with IHS or liver, martyr's palm, being boiled in oil or beheaded; banner bearing the arms of Siena; baptismal cup; fountainAnsovinus bishop with a barn near him; fruit and garden produceAnthelm of Belley holding a lamp lit by a divine handAnthony Baldinucci with a miraculous Refugium Peccatorum image of the Virgin MaryAnthony Mary Claret bishop's robe, crozier, an open book, catechism, 2 students beside him at his side and having his bent arm pointing to the skyAnthony of Kiev Religious habit, abbot's paterissa Anthony of PaduaChrist Child, bread, book, white lilyAnthony the Greatbell, pig, T-shaped cross; Tau cross with bell pendantAnthony Zaccaria cassock, lily, cross, chalice, EucharistAntiochus of Sulcis martyr's palmAntipas of Pergamum martyr's palmAntoine Chevrier cassock, crucifixAnton Maria Schwartz cassockAntonia Luzmila Rivas López religious habit of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, martyr's palmAntonia Maria Verna religious habit of the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception, Antonia Mesina martyr's palm, lily, rosaryMaria Ludovica De Angelis religious habit of the Daughters of Our Lady of MercyAntoninus of Sorrento Benedictine habit, holding a standard and the city wallAntonio da Stroncone Habit of the Order of Friars MinorAntonio della Chiesa Dominican habitAntonio Franco (blessed) bishop's attire and insigniaAntonio Grassi cassock, rosaryAntonio Maria Pucci cassockAntonio Patrizi Augustinian habitAntonio Pavoni Dominican habit, martyr's palmAntonio Pietro Cortinovis Franciscan habitAntonio Provolo cassockAnysia of Salonika veil, martyr's crossAphrodisius holding his own headApollinaris of Ravenna swordApollonia tongs (sometimes with a tooth in them), holding a martyr's cross or martyr's palm or crownAquilinus of Milan sword through his neckArcadius of Mauretania club in his hand, lighted taper or on a rack, limbs chopped offArcangelo Tadini book of hours, cassockArchangela Girlani Religious habitArialdo deacon's vestments, holding the palm of martyrdomArnold of Arnoldsweiler harpArnold of Soissons bishop's attire, with a mash rakeArnulf of Metz rake in his handAsaph as a bishop with the gospel, or a monk carrying hot coalsArsenio da Trigolo Franciscan habitArtémides Zatti Pharmacist's lab coatAssunta Marchetti Religious habitAthanasios Parios long white beard, vested as a priest, holding the gospel book.Athanasius of Alexandriabishop arguing with a pagan, bishop holding an open book, bishop standing over a defeated hereticAuditus of Braga episcopal vestments or as a hermitAugusta of Treviso sword, funeral pyre, wheel in the act of her father killing herAugustine of Hippodove, child, shell, pen, book, heart with a flame; Aurea of Ostia thrown into the sea with a millstone around her neckAustrebertha Religious habit, wolfAustregisilus knight on horseback, sometimes with religious habit over his armor; with a man falling from a horse in front of himAvvakum cassock, holding the two-fingered sign of the crossAwtel monk's or hermit's habit

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