Apostles' coats of arms

[didymus]

I didn’t go to my regular parish today but to one I’d never visited before. I noticed on two columns next to the tabernacle there were twelve coats of arms (for the apostles, I assume). The two crossed keys are St Peter and I figure the white “X” cross is St Andrew. But whch apostle is the sword? the axe? the handsaw? the shepher’s crook with clamshell superimposed?

Inquiring minds want to know

 

[brotherhrolf]

I didn’t go to my regular parish today but to one I’d never visited before. I noticed on two columns next to the tabernacle there were twelve coats of arms (for the apostles, I assume). The two crossed keys are St Peter and I figure the white “X” cross is St Andrew. But whch apostle is the sword? the axe? the handsaw? the shepher’s crook with clamshell superimposed?

Inquiring minds want to know

The sword is St. Paul. The shepherd’s crook with clamshell is probably St. James aka Santiago of pilgrimage fame -St. James Major. The handsaw - St. James Minor The axe could be St. Matthew (single head) or St. Matthias (double head) but St. Matthew is more generally depicted as an angel; St. Luke, a winged lion; St. Mark, a winged bull; St. John, an eagle.

http://www.emmedici.com/journeys/eire/storia/kellslarge.jpg