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Clerestory Windows Lining the nave
and transepts, are the clerestory (or
clearstory, so named for its brightness)
windows. Like the sun’s rays which flood the
space, God’s grace floods this place and all the
cosmos. In the twelfth century Abbot Suger
of the Abbey Church of St. Denis, wrote: “God is
light and the divine dwelling must radiate this
presence so that each of God’s disciples may be
illuminated by the Trinitarian dwelling of the
Father, the Word who is light, and the Spirit of
fire.” In the medieval mind, light was a
privileged and mysterious mediator of God and
symbol of the divine presence on earth.
The clerestory windows along the nave of the
Co-Cathedral feature ten sets of windows, each
with an angel holding an instrument in
procession toward the altar. Together, the
series depicts the angelic procession of praise
described in Psalm 150. The procession
approaching the altar is led by two angels
bearing thuribles of incense; angels follow,
praising God with the sound of musical
instruments.
The transept clerestory
windows consist of four sets on the north and
south side. On the north side are angels
standing in worship and awe of the mystery
present below on the altar. On the south side of
the transept are the four evangelists, Matthew,
Mark, Luke and John, illustrated with their
traditional iconographic symbols. These Gospel
writers stand as witnesses to Christ and his
life, death, resurrection and ascension.
Opposite the evangelists are four angels in
adoration of Christ on the cross. These angels,
shown with uplifted hands in prayer and praise,
are reminders that the Church on earth is joined
in prayer with the heavenly hosts when it
gathers together for Eucharist.
These windows were
designed by Rohn and Associates Liturgical
Designers and fabricated in Florence, Italy, by Mellini Studio.
(Click on the
thumbnail picture above for a larger image.)
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