LDS Scripture Commentary / Photos: Chartres Cathedral
Chartres west side, right portal
Tympanum:
• At top: infant Jesus enthroned on Mary's lap flanked by two angels
• Below: presentation at the temple
• Lintel: the Nativity story.
Archivolts: seven liberal arts and figure identified with each and zodiac
Figures:
• Unknown OT figure
• Unknown OT figure
• Unknown OT figure
• Apostle
• Unknown OT figure
• Unknown OT figure
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• Paul (note the omnipresent baldness) with sword, instrument of his beheading.
• St. John (no beard, young, dressed as priest; has book in left hand and broken palm--symbol of chastity--in the right.) Stands on a man offering cup of serpents, cf miracle he performed.
• St. James the Greater (of Peter, James, and John). Has belt of shells--the "coquilles St. Jacques" [scallops] were his symbol and often worn by pilgrims.
• St James the Less
• St. Bartholomew (broken flaying knife; instrument of his martyrdom).
Many apostles stand on crowned figures representing the Roman Emperors who caused their demise.
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Window 010 - Saint Apollinaris, Celestial Hierarchy, Grisaille (14th century) (unrestored).
• Row 07: Outraged at the temple's loss, pagans beat Apollinaris to death; saint's funeral; Christians of Ravenna mourn his passing.
Celestial hierarchy (lowest to highest):
• Row 08: Angels (I); Principals (III); Archangels (II).
• Row 09: Powers (IV); Virtues (V); Dominions (VI).
• Row 10: Cherubim (VIII); Thrones (VII); Seraphim (IX).
• Row 11: Christ, with angels worshipping him.
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Chartres west side, right portal, tympanum
• First archivolt: angels.
• Second archivolt: Euclid, Geometry.
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Window 035 - Saint Simon and Saint Jude
Bottom to top, left to right:
• Row 01: Henry Noblet, the donor, as deacon praying to Mary; the same donor now as canon praying to Christ.
• Row 02: Simon and Jude, missionary companions, confront Persian magicians.
• Row 03: Baradach offers sacrifice to idol for success in battle; another idol is consulted about the wisdom of attacking invading Hindus from India, but there is no response due to the two saints' presence.
• Row 04: Simon and Jude taken before general Warardac; they pray the idol will speak and reveal its impotence (note God's hand blessing them).
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Chartres, north side, right portal.
• Statues: The right pillar has two statues, one of Saint Potentian, archbishop of Sens and missionary to the Gauls, and Saint Modesta, daughter of Roman governor Quirinus, an early martyr of Chartres. They stand on scenes from their respective martyrdoms.
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Window 041 - Saint Stephen (restored)
Bottom to top, left to right:
• Row 01: Shoemakers working as donor; Presenting the window from donors.
• Row 02: Stephen made a deacon by two apostles.
• Row 03: Stephen debates (L) with the Jewish doctors (R).
• Row 04: Two false witnesses accuse Stephen before the Sanhedrin; He refutes the charge of blasphemy.
• Row 05: Stephen taken outside the city to be stoned.
• Row 06: A false witness leaves his coat with Saul, the future Saint Paul; Stephen is stoned to death.
• Row 07: Gamaliel, one of the Sanhedrin, advised that the early Christian movement not be attacked by the Jews, reasoning that if it was of men it would come to naught, and if of God they did not want to fight it. Heis sympathetic and buries Stephen in his own sepulchre; Juliana, a widow, searches for her husband's body.
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Apostles (L -> R)
Left side
• Unknown apostle
• Unknown apostle
• Unknown apostle
• St. Andrew - bears cross, instrument of his martyrdom
• St. Peter (immediately to Christ's right as head of the Church and holder of the keys of the kingdom). Beneath: Simon the Magician with large purse.
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