The Seventh Foundation Stone of the Heavenly Jerusalem:
CHRYSOLITE
"A chrysolite. The chrysolite shines as if it were gold, with burning sparks. And by the appearance of this stone are represented those who shine through their knowledge of the heavenly wisdom, and who impart to their neighbours the words of exhortation, or even the signs of powers, as sparks of fire. And of these, as Arator says: “Their minds with love instinct, their ardent zeal - In words breaks forth.” And because this is accomplished through the gift of spiritual grace alone, the chrysolite is most becomingly in the seventh foundation. For the grace of the Holy Spirit is wont very commonly to be represented by the number seven, as it is said of Him above, “And from the seven spirits which are before the throne.” And it is consonant also with this sense, that a certain kind of the same stone is found of an azure green colour, whence also among the Hebrews, from the resemblance to the colour of the sea, it is called Tharsis. For greenness appertains to the integrity of faith, which is called “the beginning of wisdom,” but water in a figurative sense to the Holy Spirit, the Lord bearing witness, Who says, “He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture saith, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive.”
[The Explanation Of The Apocalypse," by St. Bede the Venerable, 7th Century Doctor Universalis]
