Symbol in the Church story:

One of the boys was starring at the iconstasis, where there was a cross and asked his father: "Why are there some animals on the cross, Dad?' The father was confused and didn't know how to answer that question and said: "Let us ask the priest. He will answer your question." The boy eagerly rushed to the priest to ask his question and to get an answer. The priest took the boy in his arms and sat him on his lap and said: "That is really a great question, too many people view the cross and do not notice things that you did. The cross also doesn't exist in all churches. This varies from church to church. But tell me, do you know what these animals are?"
-Yes, it is an eagle and a lion and a bull.
- And what else do you see?
- I see a human angel
- Do know what book is being held by each of them?
- No, father.
- The Gospels, my son.
- Gospels! Why carry gospels?
- This is the basis of our theme. Do you want to start with any of them?
- The eagle.
- The eagle symbolizes the Evangelist John. As the eagle flies in the sky, so does the Apostle John's theology soar, always speaks of Jesus as the Son of God, a God, as is steeped in dialogues between the Lord Jesus and God the Father.
- And the lion?
-The lion symbolizes the Evangelist Mark. You know that the roar of a lion, the voice is very strong in the forest. So was the voice of St. John the Baptist, with whom St. Mark begins his Gospel with the verse "Voice of one crying in the wilderness."
- The bull?
- The bull symbolizes Evangelist Luke, who begins his Gospel by talking about the temple, where they offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, which in turn is the true symbol of the sacrifice of God, Jesus Christ who redeemed us with His blood on the Holy Cross.
- the human angel?
- Oh! Human angel symbolizes the Evangelist Matthew when he speaks a lot about the Angel of the Lord at the beginning of his Gospel as it lists a lot of stories about Jesus Christ as the son of Man. Do you see now my son why these four symbols carry bibles?
- Yes, father! I have now learned that they symbolize the four evangelists. But I have one small question.
- Ask, my son.
- I see a dove painted above the Royal Doors, what does this symbolize?
- It symbolizes the Holy Spirit. We see it in many icons such as the Annunciation and the Tranfiguration icons. It also reminds us of the end of the days of Noah's flood and the beginning of a new era of God.
The boy sighed with joy, thanked the priest from the bottom of his heart and went back happily to his father.