Gold in Christianity

Not every Christian believer knows that gold- symbolizes in Christianity the Divine Glory of Christ. This precious metal symbolizes the pure light of heaven, in which the Lord dwells.

You can often find golden domes on Orthodox churches - they symbolize the worthy Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God, the triumph of the Orthodox faith, sacrificial love for the glory of God.

As you know, one of the three gifts that the Magi brought to the newborn Savior was gold, incense and myrrh.

In ancient times people associated gold with beauty and perfection, calling the era in which they were most happy “the golden age.” Gold also served as a synonym for wealth and idolatry. A famous example is the “golden calf” from the Bible (Exodus 32), which was worshiped by the Jews as the only God, but was destroyed by the prophet Moses.

Gold was a symbol of the sun, sacred power, wisdom, honor and superiority.

Icons in Byzantium were painted on a golden background, which reflected the Divine light. The Fathers of the Church made gold a symbol of Jesus Christ, knowledge and the light of Truth. Gold, along with the sun, symbolized the human mind, which was illuminated by Divine revelation.

One of the most important pillars of the Church, St. John (c. 347-407 AD), had the nickname Chrysostom.

On knightly coats of arms gold denoted the perfection and wisdom of a person renewed by Christ, who went through worldly trials and temptations in order to manifest the image of God in himself and shine like the Sun.

The “Orthodox Gifts” store offers you a wide selection of gold products - you can always order and buy unique gold rings with the psalms of David, buy a handmade gold chain, wedding rings made of yellow and white gold, as well as Orthodox crosses that will become a beautiful and a meaningful gift for every Christian. These masterpieces of Christian jewelry will become the pearl of your family and will be inherited.

GOLD is a noble metal symbolizing the highest level of power and wealth.

Since ancient times it has been used as a universal monetary equivalent. In esotericism, a sign of the highest levels of wisdom and knowledge. The sun symbol is associated with sunlight energy, fire. In medieval iconography it acted as an allegory of heavenly light. The gold-making art of the Incas was entirely subordinated to the sun. Personified, as a rule, by a male deity. According to the ancient Egyptians, gold is evidence of the presence of the divine principle in the created world. Gold, according to Chinese Taoists, is the quintessence of heaven. In Christianity, a symbol of love and fidelity. The wise men who came for the star of Bethlehem presented the baby Jesus with incense, myrrh and gold.

The acquisition of gold is the goal of alchemical transmutation. It was an allegorical sign of an enlightened soul, expressing the latter’s ability to shine with divine light. Alchemical transmutation passes to gold through the stages of black - sin and repentance, white - forgiveness and innocence and red - purification and passion. The motive of acquiring treasures, understood in the sense of spiritual enrichment, is associated with gold. It expresses the principle of sacredness as such, therefore gold is the royal metal. By Indian tradition gold is interpreted as light materialized in stone. Linguistically, R. Guenon, a specialist in the field of symbolism, proved the relationship between the concepts of gold and light. Gold is also a symbol of the heart. If the heart is the main organ in human nature, then gold is the heart of the earth. The mythology about gold hidden in a cave and guarded by a dragon became an allegory of wisdom. The golden sword was a symbol of courage and valor in ancient mythology. The image of the golden fleece, found by Jason on the tree of life, is interpreted as a sign of immortality. The symbolism of making gold according to alchemical treatises is also associated with the dream of immortality.

An old English superstition about a rainbow says that when you get to where it hits the ground, you will find a buried bag of gold. Everywhere, the bride and groom who get married exchange gold rings, which introduces an element of solar sacralization into the sacrament. On the other hand, in Russia to this day there remains an archaic ban on giving birth and operating while wearing gold jewelry.

The negative connotation in the interpretation of gold associates it with idolatry and money-grubbing. It is no coincidence that the golden calf is an ambivalent symbol of both paganism and greed. Gold is also a sign of vanity, which is why the Orthodox tradition condemns the wearing of gold crosses by the laity.

The color gold is used in painting as an expression of divine revelation. The golden radiance embodies the eternal divine light.

In illustrations of biblical scenes, in the painting of walls and domes of Byzantine churches, the yellow-gold background embodies the horizon of eternity, eternal light, against which all depicted events acquire the meaning of holiness.
Evgeniy Miller


Gold, which in itself is a precious material value, carries within itself the effect of “soft hypnotism”. Many people perceive the golden color as starlight descending from heaven.

In its constancy and immutability, gold, which does not oxidize in air and does not combine with anything in alloys, has become a symbol of eternity and immortality. In the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, for example, in the tomb of Ramses III, the walls depict a winged sun of golden color against a background of dark blue night; this background symbolizes the darkness of space, and the whole picture represents the movement of the pharaoh who has passed into another world towards the eternal light, where he himself will be reborn in immortality.


The winged sun itself was considered by the ancient Egyptians to be an attribute of the god Horus, born from Isis and the dead Osiris, in order to resist the destructive power of Set again and again, avenging his murdered father. Horus (literally “height”, “sky”) was depicted as a man with the head of a falcon as a symbol of the winged sun.


According to the myth, Isis conceived him from the already dead Osiris, who was treacherously killed by his brother Set. In the battle with Seth, Horus is first defeated, Seth tears out his eye, a wonderful eye. However, then, in a long struggle, Horus defeats Set, deprives him of his manhood, returns his wonderful eye, with the help of which he finds pieces of the severed body of Osiris scattered throughout the world and brings him back to life.


And finally, gold is a metaphor for the time of fulfillment and the end. Since the time of Virgil, there has been a political utopia about a “golden age.”
The attributes of kings and kings were golden crowns and orb-orbs, their roundness and integrity symbolizing such a time of fulfillment.
The symbolism of the perfection of the golden color is manifested even more strongly in the prediction of the heavenly Jerusalem built from “pure gold”: “... the city was pure gold... the streets of the city were pure gold...” (Revelation of John the Theologian 21, 18; 21).
Symbolism of jewelry

Butterfly– lightness and grace, a symbol of paradise. Another meaning is playmaker, frivolity, carelessness.

Ladybug– a symbol of good luck and success.

Pigeon- love, meekness, tenderness.

Dolphin- a symbol of love, diligence, loyalty, sharpness of thinking.


The Dragon– a symbol of fertility (in China), strength. It was believed that the image of a dragon would give a person true invulnerability, that is, immortality.

Hare rabbit)– a symbol of longevity, an expert in healing potions. The hare helps children receive the protection of the Moon, which means they can have happy life in future.

Snake- a symbol of wisdom, immortality, renewal, temptation. A dual symbol among all peoples: on the one hand, the snake is a symbol of the underworld, the kingdom of the dead, one of the guises of the Devil, cunning and dangerous, on the other hand, the snake is treated with respect primarily because of its ability to change skin (a symbol of renewed life ). In the East the Snake is a symbol female beauty, symbol of mysterious powers, telepathy, clairvoyance.


Cat- revered as a sacred animal by many peoples, a symbol of eternity, independence and grace, the queen of love. It is believed that it protects against the evil eye. This symbol is worn on the shoulder.

Martin– personifies speed in achieving goals.

Swan– symbolizes tenderness, constancy and fidelity in love.


Horse- a symbol of life, optimism, diversity of feelings and perpetual motion. In the East, the Horse is considered a friend of man and a protector from evil spirits.
It is also considered a manifestation of the spiritual principle and patronizes gifted people - artists, poets, musicians. The horse helps to reach the heights of spirit and immortality. The horse represents quickness of thought, brightness of imagination, talent and creativity.

Frog- a symbol of the patroness of women’s household chores and especially weaving. It restores health and is believed to cure heart disease. This symbol is recommended to be worn on the left shoulder (above the heart).

Chafer- symbol of a merchant. It represents luck and success in trading matters.


Fly– symbolizes the strength of business ties.

Mouse- in the East, a symbol of wealth and its accumulation. In the West, the mouse has transformed from a symbol of theft and the devil over the last century into a symbol of nimbleness, intelligence and resourcefulness.

Spider- a successful catcher with power.


Panther– the embodiment of predatory femininity, flexibility, grace. It personifies greatness, it is a symbol of power, fearlessness, courage, power and nobility. The aggressive panther is ready to defend and attack; it is believed that it helps against the evil eye. This symbol is worn on the shoulder, with the head facing towards you. A bracelet with walking panthers is worn with the feet down to protect oneself from unforeseen circumstances.

Bee- a symbol of hard work, fertility; among the ancient Slavs, the bee was a symbol of love.

Rose- a symbol of spring, beauty, love, tenderness; a rosebud is a symbol of virginity. And also a symbol of power and pride.


Fish- early Christians wore fish made of metal, stone, mother-of-pearl or glass around their necks, just as they wear crosses on their necks now. Symbol of silence, fertility, “maternal origin.” In Ancient China, fish was a symbol of happiness and abundance, in Japan - a symbol and embodiment of courage, strength and endurance.

Scarab- a symbol of rebirth, fertility, strength and courage (in Ancient Egypt). Scarabs from blue stone The rings of ancient Egyptian warriors were adorned as a symbol of masculinity.

Dog- a symbol of courage, bravery, selflessness and justice. The dog has always been a faithful friend, helper and protector of man. And besides, dogs have hypersensitive perception.


Owl- a symbol of wisdom, intuition and clairvoyance.

Scorpion- a symbol of wisdom and nobility. In the Middle Ages, it was often used as a talisman and amulet; Paracelsus advised patients suffering from diseases of the reproductive system to wear it.

Elephant- a symbol of strength and power, happiness and wealth. The personification of memory, wisdom, longevity, fidelity, compassion. Jewelers have been using images of elephants in their jewelry since ancient times. These products carry the strongest and most positive energy for humans. Such jewelry is suitable for people seeking stability, confidence and stability in life.


A flower is a symbol of beauty, a symbol of birth.
The white water lily flower is a symbol of purity and virginity.
The cornflower flower is a symbol of trust.
The carnation flower is a symbol of love, engagement and marriage.
The clover flower (shamrock) is a symbol of the Trinity. Four-leaf clover brings good luck in all matters.
The lily of the valley flower is a symbol of tenderness and purity.
The lily flower is a symbol of good news. In contrast, a rose means masculinity.


The lotus flower is a symbol of life and happiness, in China it is a symbol of purity.
Poppy flower - symbolizes memories, silence, sleep. In Ukraine - a symbol of fertility, health, beauty.
Forget-me-not flower - symbolizes memory and fidelity.
Orchid flower – femininity.
Peony flower - love, wealth, luck.

Golden color(color of the sun), symbolizes warmth, sunlight, radiance, wealth, beauty, glory, victory, wisdom, experience. The negative aspects of the golden color include sadness and martyrdom. It was very often used in heraldry.

In Ancient Egypt, this color was associated with the heavenly sun god Ra. In Indonesia, this color signified truth and enlightenment. In Greece, the color of gold was the color of immortality and higher intelligence, and in Indochina - enlightenment.

This sunny color signifies material abundance, so only kings, princes, nobles and other nobility wore gold. Simple people could not afford to wear gold jewelry or clothes of this color.

In ancient Greek mythology, the skin of a golden-colored ram was called the “golden fleece.” According to legend, the skin of a sheep was immersed in a gold-bearing river, thus, ancient people mined gold - particles of gold sand settled on the skin. Such golden fleece was very valuable.

Psychology of gold color in clothes

Stylish and elegant people choose gold-colored clothes. This color means that a person is ready for decisive action and is not afraid of anything. Gold color preferred more women than men.

Clothes in gold tones look most impressive in the evening. During the day, a golden dress will obscure the sunlight, and such clothes will look out of place. A gold outfit is best suited for evening celebrations and events, parties, discos and club meetings.

Energetic and strong-willed people can afford to wear a pure gold suit. For the rest, it is best to combine gold color with other shades. Classic option considered a combination of gold and dark blue colors. A blue top and gold bottom will look more impressive. Gold can be used as an additional color, for example, gold shoes, handbag.

Golden color in the interior

The golden color in the interior was very popular during antiquity and the Renaissance. Today, the color gold is a sign of bad taste. But, if this color is used correctly, it can create an atmosphere of luxury, wealth, prosperity and abundance in the home.

The safest option is to use gold as a frame for mirrors and paintings. This will emphasize the elegance and grace of the design.

The golden color, reflecting light, visually enlarges the space, so it can be safely used in rooms with a small area.

Golden color goes perfectly with warm tones - brown, beige, sand, olive, orange. Gold is most often used to decorate living rooms, bedrooms and hallways.

In the bathroom and kitchen this color is very rarely used, and if used, it is as an additional shade.

In the Russian Orthodox Church there is no special canon that regulates what color domes on churches should be, so in the modern world they often rely on material resources, and if they are few, then the dome of the church can be made from wooden aspen tiles or from painted iron in green or blue.

“There is no sin in this,” says priest from Yekaterinburg Maxim Menyailo (Church on the Blood), “God created all these materials so that man himself could decide how to use them.”
However, to this day, gilding of church domes remains the ideal of church construction, since gold in the human mind is a symbol of incorruptibility, a symbol of God’s eternal Existence.

The custom came “from the Romans”

The custom of covering domes with gold came to Rus' from Byzantium, and of course, the largest Orthodox church in Constantinople, the Hagia Sophia, made a huge impression on the first Russian Christians. The construction of Hagia Sophia took three annual incomes of the empire; Emperor Justinian believed that with this he surpassed King Solomon, who built the Temple in Jerusalem, and wanted to cover not only the domes of Sophia with gold, but also the walls from the dome to the foundation.
The wise men of Constantinople warned him against this, who predicted that at “the end of times the poorest kings will come to the city and raze the golden Sophia to the ground,” so there is no need to do this.
Bishop Anthony of Novgorod, who visited Byzantium in the 13th century, described the interior of the cathedral with admiration. He wrote about the golden iconostasis, about the silver pulpit and the “altar pillar”, mentioned a huge golden cross with pearls and precious stones two human heights “behind the holy throne” and about the golden lamps “made” by Justinian.

Gold and poverty, life and death stood side by side

After Russia adopted Orthodoxy, the question arose about the construction of Orthodox churches - there were no builders or architects, so the renewed Rus' was forced to invite “Roman” craftsmen, who brought with them the tradition of gilding domes.
No other Christian denomination has such a tradition established. One of the first churches in Rus' to have a golden dome was the 12th century temple on the Nerl in honor of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary, the dome of which was gilded by order of St. Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky
Of course, behind the sacred meaning of covering the dome with the thinnest layer of gilding, there was also a practical meaning - in those days they did not know how to anodize roofing iron, and a gilded dome could stand for 100 years without repair - gold reliably protected the iron from corrosion and protected the holy of holies - the altar - from rain.
The work of a goldsmith was very harmful, since the domes in the Middle Ages were covered with a mixture of gold and mercury, and then the metal was heated so that the mercury vapor evaporated, and then they repeated this again - therefore good craftsmen didn't live long. It is known that during the gilding of the domes of St. Petersburg Isaac in the 19th century, 60 gilders died from poisoning, and in total a hundredweight of gold was spent on the domes.

Symbolism of gilding

The tradition of gilding domes still amazes the minds of Europeans, who consider it a useless extravagance.
But it was not without reason that the Magi, who brought gifts to the Divine Child, in addition to myrrh and incense, presented him with gold - a metal that never changes. This metal is in my soul Orthodox man is inextricably linked not with wealth, but with God, with eternal life, with heavenly glory. It is a sign of immortality, greatness and faith burning in the souls of Russian people.
Priest Andrei Chizhenko points out that the onion-shaped golden domes symbolize a burning candle and are the prayer of Orthodox people to God. This architectural technique reveals the filial love of creatures for the Creator and is a sacrifice to the Lord.
Over time, Russian Orthodoxy developed a tradition of gilding the domes of churches dedicated to Christ.
If the temple has domes of blue color with stars, then the temple is most likely dedicated to the Mother of God, and the stars and the heavenly color of the domes are reminiscent of Star of Bethlehem which announced the birth of the Savior.
Green and silver domes indicate that the temple was erected in honor of the Holy Trinity or some saint, and black domes indicate that in front of you is a monastery building.
However, all this is nothing more than tradition. For example, the temple in the name of the Holy Trinity, erected at the northernmost point of the planet - in Antarctica, is covered with wood.

Titanium nitride will not replace gold

They still resort to gilding domes today. This is done both by electroplating and by covering the domes with gold leaf, which is glued to the varnish, which in turn is applied to the primer. Each of these methods has its own advantages: applying gold leaf makes the dome perfectly round and allows it to be restored if damaged. With the galvanic gilding method, if the dome is damaged, it has to be remade.
IN modern world technology does not stand still, and now “golden” domes are made by covering them with a layer of titanium nitride. It is also durable and not as expensive as gold.
Titanium nitride was used for the first time in history modern Russia during the restoration of the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
Gilding the domes was then recognized by Mayor Yuri Luzhkov as too expensive, and he ordered the choice to be made of titanium nitride. In the aggressive atmosphere of the metropolis, the fake “gold” turned red after three years.
However, in the modest province, titanium domes continue to be in demand. True, some clergy believe that the shine of the new material is devoid of the inner dignity that is inherent in real gold.