Agnus Dei

deity sky Roman single tradition · 1

Agnus Dei is the figure of a lamb bearing a cross, used as a symbol of the Saviour known as the “Lamb of God.” The image appears in ecclesiastical art and in a small cake blessed by popes since the 9th century, which believers claim can avert evil. The name also designates a liturgical anthem introduced by Pope Sergius I in the late 7th century.

When

First attested
687 CE
Attested period
687 – 2020
Historical notes
The anthem Agnus Dei was introduced into the missal by Pope Sergius I (687–701).

Relationships

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Sources

encyclopedia (1)
  1. peer reviewed

Source passages

“Agnus Dei, the figure of a lamb bearing a cross, symbolical of the Saviour as the “Lamb of God.” ... Since the 9th century it has been customary for the popes to bless these cakes... Agnus Dei is also the popular name for the anthem beginning with these words, which is said to have been introduced into the missal by Pope Sergius I. (687–701).”

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