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THE TRANSEPT WINDOWS
AT FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH
Except for the stone trim, these windows are practically the same as
they appeared in our former church. They are designed with seven candles
which support the rose above. Please keep that word “support” in mind.
In the center of the rose of the north window you see the Cross and
Crown, the symbol of Faith. In a similar position in the south window
you see the Anchor, the symbol of Hope. The twelve “petals” symbolize
the Twelve Apostles, while the “candles” in this instance are
representative of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are the
simple translations of these symbols when taken separately.
In combination the symbols of these windows tell a story which takes
us back to the day of Pentecost, the birthday of the Christian Church.
“When the day of Pentecost 1 come, they (the apostles) were all to
together in one place * * * and they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit.” It was by “Faith” and “Hope” that they were drawn
together, and after having received the power of the Holy Spirit, they
spread out, like the petals of the rose, and began proclaiming the
Gospel to the world.
The seven candles which “support” the rose are significant from
the fact that it is only by the Holy Spirit we are actually able to
believe in Christ and his Gospel and continue his work successfully as
it was so ably exemplified by the miraculous deeds and preaching of the
original twelve.It
seems proper to insert here that “Whitsunday” is said to be the better
English name for this Christian festival as it expresses the fact of the
descent of the Holy Spirit while the word “Pentecost” refers more
specifically to the Jewish festival of the Harvest.
These windows are not
only beautiful but are illuminating in both a physical and spiritual
sense, and we, like St. Peter, feel inclined to quote a portion of the
Psalm of David: “Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt
make me full of gladness with thy Presence.”
Fleur-de-lys
This symbol is seen in the transept windows where it is used to
represent the flames of the candles. It also appears in the arches of
the windows of the choir gallery. Several meanings are ascribed to it
depending considerably upon its location, but principally the Blessed
Virgin, the Annunciation and the Holy Trinity. It is used so profusely
in ornamentation that its devotional character is practically lost.
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