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Click here for a larger picture
Stained glass in St.
Andrew's:
The Perfect Sacrifice Portrayed
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each small picture to see a larger image.
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The
theme of the window above the altar in the Lady Chapel is
sacrifice offered to God, culminating in the perfect sacrifice
of Christ. This is shown at the top of the window, by the
representation of the Lamb of God, (Agnus Dei in Latin) and of
the chalice and wafer of the Eucharist, on the left, and a dove
on the right, with surrounding angels joining in the adoration. |
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The
idea of sacrifice is illustrated by four stories from the Old
Testament, shown from left to right. First we see Abel, whose
offering of a lamb was acceptable to God, and who was murdered
by his jealous brother, Cain. |
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Then Noah, who after all those in the Ark had been saved from
perishing offered a sacrifice, and God blessed him and all
living things. |
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The
third panel is of Abraham and Lot, (who are shown wearing
armour, because they were returning from a battle) with
Melchizedek, who is described as Priest of God Most High, and
who 'brought bread and wine', and gave them his blessing. |
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The
fourth panel is of Aaron, the brother of Moses, and ancestor of
the Jewish priestly line, offering a sacrificial lamb. |
All along the bottom of the
window, four angels, one to each panel, hold a quotation from the
Epistle to the Hebrews, speaking of all the Old Testament heroes of
faith who greeted from afar the salvation which was to come; 'These all,
having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise;
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us
should not be made perfect'.
Altogether the window
reminds us of the phrase in the final prayer of the Eucharist, that
through Christ, 'We offer our souls and bodies to be a living
sacrifice'.
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