Epiphany Lutheran Church
St. Louis, Missouri

The Wise Men, led by the Star, were the first Gentiles to pay homage to the Christ on earth.  The major races of man are depicted in the dark, the yellow and the white kings.  Tradition alone says there were three – their coming and return is indicated in the picture for they were warned by God to return in a different way to their homes.

The Presentation of the Christ Child in the temple.  Here is the aged Simeon holding the Christ Child in reverence as if saying to God, “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” (Luke 2:30)

Jesus at the age of twelve in the temple seated among the doctors.  As the inspired account declares, He read from the Scriptures and the teachers were amazed at His wisdom and understanding.

The Baptism of Christ, the beginning of His ministry, St. John baptizes Christ in the Jordan River.  The Holy Spirit descended in the form of a Dove and God the Father spoke from heaven, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

The Marriage at Cana, Christ manifests His glory by His first miracle, the turning of water into wine.  The entire concept is embodied in this window.  The servants are depicted; Jesus gives them instructions.  The wedding feast in the background shows the house filled with guests.

The story of the Centurion’s faith.  He is pointing to his sword showing his authority over many men.  His complete faith is manifested in the healed servant rising from his bed.

Another miracle in the Epiphany season is the Stilling of the Tempest.  Just study it with a little imagination.  The boat is there, the waves are there, the fear of the disciples is clearly depicted, but standing above both is the Lord with His “Peace be still” and there was great calm.  The coloration here is done with the intention of a night scene, hence the unorthodox color of flesh and the predominance of blues.

The Parable of the Tares Among the Wheat.  We see the harvesting and the separation in this picture.

The Parable of the Sowing of the Seed.  Different, yes, but you must study the picture to see that all the details are there -- the path, the fowls, the stone, the weeds and the good ground. – One sun shining on all.  The fault of not producing is not found in the sun, but in the type of ground.

The Conversion of Saul.  Here is shown the violence of his fall; the terror of divine wrath has shaken all, even the horse.  Saul’s eyes are already staring without sight as the words of Christ berate him.

Christ is in the center -- one hand is raised in the blessing of the Trinity, the other holds the globe, Christ’s dominion over the earth.  Above Him are the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  Below, the moon over the sun – dominion over the universe.  On the left, Adam and Eve and the Tree of the First Fall, entwined by a serpent of sin whose head is crushed under Christ’s feet.  On the right is the Tree of Redemption.  In it are found symbols pertaining to the Redemption: grapes, the Eucharist cup and wafer, the new Jerusalem, the cross, the empty tomb and the wheat.  The Dove to the right of Christ completes the thought of the Trinity.

This is called the Four Angels of the Elements, each as a symbol that relates to the elements in Christian terms:
the air is the Dove or Holy Spirit;
water the fish, ICTHUS, or symbol of Christ;
 the earth contains the seed of Creation;
the fire, the Pentecostal flame.