Although the identity of this saint remains to be determined, his black habit indicates that he is a Benedictine monk, and the palm branch that he holds in his left hand indicates that he is a martyr. In Roman times, athletes and warriors were awarded a palm branch as a symbol of victory. Early Christians adapted the Roman symbolism to make the palm symbolize a martyr's spiritual victory over... Initial R with a Benedictine martyr saint This cutting can be dated to ca. 1470. This image shows the reverse of a cutting with an historiated initial from a service book. The text is from Psalm 118,'Os meum aperui et attraxi spiritum quia mandata tua desiderabam ...' (I opened my mouth and panted because I longed for your commandments). Script: Rotunda
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