We have recently completed a complete renovation of the stained glass surrounding our main Church dome. All of the panels are symbolic in some fashion. The following is an explanation of the glass work you will see when you “look up”!!
St Philip
The cross symbolizes his martyrdom and the two loaves represent St Philip’s response to Jesus feeding the multitudes.
St. Peter
The symbol of the keys Christ gave to his church and the inverted cross on which St. Peter was crucified.
St. Andrew
A cross in the shape of an “X” represents the crucifixion of St. Andrew.
St. James The Greater
The three scallop shells symbolize the missionary who used a shell to scoop water to drink on his travels.
St. Thomas
The square, spear, and arrows symbolize St. Thomas, the first missionary to India where he built a church with his own hands, thus the carpenter’s square. He was killed by heathens with spears and arrows.
St. James The Lesser
He was thrown from the pinnacle of the Temple; his body was sawn into pieces, thus the symbol of the saw.
St. Matthew
Three money bags symbolize that St. Matthew was a tax collector when called by Jesus.
St. Bartholomew
The flaying knives symbolize his death by being skinned alive.
St. John
The chalice with serpent inside symbolizes the attempt to kill St. John by putting a poisonous snake inside the Communion Cup.
St. Jude
The ship is a sign of missionary voyages of Jesus Christ.
St. PaulThe sword symbolizes St. Paul as a persecutor of Christians. The gospel book is a symbol of his conversion and thus becoming the greatest preacher of the “Good News”.
St. Simon
He was a fisher of humanity by preaching the Holy Gospel.
