The Palm
Victory over death: the martyrs, robed in white with palms in their hands (Revelation 7:9).
In the ancient world a palm branch was given to the victor. Christians gave it to those who won the greatest victory of all: the martyrs, who died rather than deny Christ.
In Scripture. The crowds waved palm branches as Christ entered Jerusalem (John 12:13), as the Church does every Palm Sunday. In the Book of Revelation the saints stand before the throne “clothed in white robes, with palms in their hands” (Revelation 7:9).
In the catacombs. Early Christians carved the palm on tombs in the catacombs of Rome, as a sign of victory over death.
In statues. A saint holding a palm is a martyr. Often the palm is joined by the instrument of martyrdom: the gridiron for St Lawrence, the arrows and anchor for St Philomena, the wheel for St Catherine of Alexandria, the sword for St Paul.
Where you’ll see it
Flowers and plants
All symbols →
A statue with the palm?
Every statue is made from scratch in our studio in Mangalore.