Religion in national symbols


Religion in national symbols can often be found in national anthems or flags. This has led to controversy in some countries in regard to the separation of church and state, when the national symbol is officially sanctioned by a government.

Flags which incorporate symbols of religion

Christianity

FlagCountryReligious characteristics
Armenia The color red emblematizes the maintenance of the Christian faith.
Andorra Includes a bishop's mitre, representing the Bishop of Urgell.
Australia Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Colombia Blue represents the equality of all races and social classes before God and the law
Denmark Nordic Cross Flag
Dominica The cross represents the Trinity
Dominican Republic A Bible, the color white stands for salvation
El Salvador Dios, Unión, Libertad
Fiji Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick, dove
Finland Nordic Cross Flag
Georgia Jerusalem cross
Greece The cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy
Iceland Nordic Cross Flag
Ireland The green symbolizes the Catholic population. The orange symbolizes the Protestants.
Liechtenstein Christian cross
Malta George Cross
Moldova Orthodox Cross
Montenegro The three crosses represents the Trinity
New Zealand Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Norway Nordic Cross Flag
Portugal Compound cross of five quinas, each one charged with five saltire-arranged bezants, representing the five wounds of Christ
San Marino Cross
Serbia Orthodox Cross
Slovakia Patriarchal cross
Spain The three crosses represents the Trinity
Sweden Nordic Cross Flag
Switzerland Christian cross
Tonga Christian cross
Tuvalu Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Ukraine The yellow represents golden domes of churches in the country.
United Kingdom Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Vatican City The flag consists of two vertical bands, one of gold and one of white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the Papal Tiara centered in the white band

Islam

Judaism

Buddhism and Hinduism

Traditional

National anthems which incorporate religion

Former national anthems

Coat of arms

Christianity

Islam

Judaism

Buddhism and Hinduism

Taoism and Confucianism

Traditional