Continuity of the symbol of the Tree of Life from the oldest religions (Egypt and the Middle East) to Christian art and its interpretation by the Church fathers
The article shows continuity of symbols from ancient times, firstly in the Old Testament and then in the New Testament. The article deals with such symbols of Christian art as the Tree of Life, the staff, the rod in their relationship with each other. Since ancient times to the present, symbolism of a staff-wand has retained its original meaning of the Tree of Life, although outwardly it has been modified several times. Another type of the Tree of Life was the image of the Mother of God. In this regard, consideration of the symbol of the Tree of Life in its relationship with other symbols, helps to identify a variety of meanings.