The Meaning of Color in Early Christian Art

Crusaders

Early Christian Art Symbols - The Meaning of Colors
The The Symbolism of Colors represent many different items of sacred significance. The 

meaning of the different are highly significant and are detailed as follows:

White symbolizes Purity, virginity, innocence and virtue. It also symbolises holiness and is 

the Christian color for all high Holy Days of the Church Year, especially the seasons of 

Christmas and Easter

Yellow colors symbolize renewal, hope, light and purity. Yellow is the Christian color for the

 season of Easter when used with white. When taken as an off-white color symbolizes 

degradation or cowardice

Orange colors symbolize courage, endurance and strength representing fire and flame

Green colors symbolize nature, fertility, hope and bountifulness. Green symbolizes freedom 

from bondage. Green is the Christian color for the season of Epiphany

Red colors symbolize the Holy Spirit and is the color of Pentecost. Red also represents fire and 

is associated with power and importance. Crimson red also symbolizes the presence of God 

and the blood of martyrs. It is the Christian liturgical color for Pentecost and 

represents atonement and humility

Black colors symbolize death, fear and ignorance and was also used to indicate authority

and power. The color black is associated with Good Friday.

Brown colors symbolize the earth, poverty and humility and closely associated with monastic life

Blue colors symbolize heavenly grace. The Virgin Mary is often depicted wearing blue 

clothing. Blue also represents hope, good health and the state of servitude

Purple colors are always associated with Royalty, Purple togas were worn by the powerful 

Roman Emperors. The symbolic meaning of the color purple was for penitence and mourning 

and is the liturgical color for the seasons of Lent and Advent