Prologue. On the Church. Portraits of the apostoles stating where they preached 975

Ende illuminated this page depicting the Apostles, each identified with the place they preached. The most striking feature is the stylized trees above each group, evoking the Tree of Life, a motif deeply rooted in religious symbolism. We see echoes of this imagery across cultures. The tree as a source of life and knowledge appears in ancient Egyptian art, as well as in the story of the Garden of Eden. Here, the trees connect the Apostles to a divine source, symbolizing spiritual nourishment and growth. Their presence invites a psychoanalytic interpretation, tapping into our collective memory of nature as a nurturing, life-giving force. This is not just a visual representation but an activation of primal connections. The progression of the tree symbol is not linear but cyclical. It resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, reminding us of the enduring power of symbols to engage us on a profound level.