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Using light as fil rouge reuniting theology and ritual with the architecture, decoration, and iconography of cultic spaces, the present study argues that the mise-en-scène of fifth-century baptism and sixth-century episcopal liturgy was meant to reproduce the luminous atmosphere of heaven. Analysing the material culture of the two sacraments against common ritual expectations and Christian theology, we evince the mannerin which the luminous effect was reached through a combination of constructive techniques and perceptual manipulation. One nocturnal and one diurnal, the two ceremonials represented different scenarios, testifying to the capacity of church builders and willingness of Late Antique bishops to stage the ritual experience in order to offer God to the senses.

Worship --- Liturgies, Early Christian. --- Baptism --- Liturgy and architecture. --- Light in architecture --- Light --- Architecture --- Lighting, Architectural and decorative --- Architecture and liturgy --- Liturgical architecture --- Early Christian liturgies --- Church history --- History --- Religious aspects --- Christianity. --- Ravenna (Italy) --- Ravenne (Italy) --- Raṿeno (Italy) --- Church history. --- Paulinus, --- Di Nola, Paolino, --- Meropius Pontius Anicius Paulinus, --- Nola, Paulinus of, --- Paolino, --- Paulin, --- Paulinus Nolanus, --- Pontius Meropius Anicius Paulinus, --- Pontius Meropius Paulinus Nolanus, --- Theophany, Light, Baptism, Liturgy.