The Devoted Members’ Window (Symbols of the Saints Window), given by the parish in thanksgiving for its members, depicts symbols of the saints:
- St. Peter (Crossed Keys)
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“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” St. Peter is recognized as the first pope, and the symbol of keys is still used by the papacy.
Matthew 16:18-19
- St. James (Three Shells or Escallops)
- Many medieval Christians made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, which was believed to have been visited by St. James. As a badge of their pilgrimage, they brought home sea shells from the nearby coast.
- St. John (Poisoned Chalice with Serpent)
- Early writers state that St. John was one served poisoned wine; he survived because he blessed the wine before he put it to his lips, and the poison rose from the chalice in the shape of a serpent.
- St. Andrew (Twin Fishes)
- St. Andrew was a fisherman before he followed Jesus. The diagonal cross was the instrument of his martyrdom.
- St. Philip (Basket with a Tau Cross)
- St. Philip is symbolized by the bread basket, because of his role in the feeding of the Five Thousand (John 6: 5-7: When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.”) The Tau cross was the means by which Philip was martyred.
- St. Bartholomew (Flaying Knife)
- St. Bartholomew is said to have been martyred by being skinned alive on the orders of the King of Armenia, so his symbol is a knife.
Last Updated: September 3, 2023 by stlukesadmin
Devoted Members’ Window
The Devoted Members’ Window (Symbols of the Saints Window), given by the parish in thanksgiving for its members, depicts symbols of the saints:
Matthew 16:18-19
Category: History of St. Luke's