György Heidl - Early Christian imagery of a "virga virtuitis" and Ambrose's theology of Sacraments

The paper aims at demonstrating that Saint Ambrose’s mystagogical writings provide a clue to understanding a puzzling iconographic motif of early Christian funerary art in the Roman area. The wand that appears in the hand of Jesus on such pictures as the Multiplication of Loaves, the miracle of Cana or the raising of Lazarus has basically been interpreted to mean either virga virtutis (e.g. M. Dulaey) or virga thaumaturgica (e.g. Th. Mathews). What makes any interpretation difficult is the fact that the Christian visual culture is intimately connected to the liturgical and sacramental life, but the early Church does not precipitately disclose his sacramental theology and details of his liturgy.  In the Western region where representations of “virga” often occur, Ambrose’s De sacramentis and De mysteriis can be considered the most important written sources that provide insight into the depth of theology of Baptism and Eucharist. The wand-motif will be interpreted in close relation with his theology of sacraments, as well as with the long absence and slow appearance of the imagery of Crucifixion in the early Christian art.