Pagan/secular stained glass window in church

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Petergee

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I recently went to Mass in a church, built on a hill by the sea, with an unusual design in that the original small rectangular gabled church had been expanded by putting a second, larger gabled building next to it and moving the altar to the middle where they join. The extension part has large clear-glass double doors which are directly in front of the people sitting in it, so that magnificent view of the sea in front of you is quite a distraction from what’s going on in the sanctuary. But I was more disturbed by the fact that above the doors in the gable is a circular window almost a metre in diameter, with a yellow sun depicted in stained glass. Nothing else in the picture, and no apparent relation to Christianity or to the patron name of the Church
What are we, sun-worshippers? Does anyone know what aspect of Christianity this could symbolise? Is it allowed for churches to have secular stained glass window images, not to mention ones which are highly suggestive of paganism? Has anyone seen any similar things in churches?
 
The sun is a symbol of Christ, the Son.

And, even if it’s just the plain old sun it’s *not *pagan and it’s *not *forbidden.
 
Isn’t this the reason why we have IHS on the host? Is that coming from Isis and Horus the sun god?:confused: :confused: :confused:

Sorry, I just had a Jack Chick attack!😃 😃 😃 😃
 
The ocean and the sun were both made by God the Father. Nothing pagan about admiring God’s handiwork!
 
You might want to inquire of the church if there is some historical significance to the sun window.

You said that the church is near the sea. Is it possible that in the past, a storm or shipwreck took the lives of beloved parishioners, and the sun window was dedicated in their memory? Perhaps they were fisherman and always arose at dawn and returned at sunset, and hence the sun symbol reminds people of them. The sun and the other heavenly bodies are very important to people who make their living from the sea.

Ask the older people and see if they can tell you the story of the window.

In the Italian parish where I play piano, there is one window that depicts one of the beloved priests in the parish. There is also a street in our city named after him–he was very influential in our city. The window is really cool! Father is leading the children to Jesus and the Blessed Mother!

You know you’re really a good Catholic when they build a window with your image!
 
Thanks for your interesting replies. I can’t say I’ve found a reason that satisfies me yet. I won’t be able to get to the church again for a long time. I’ve emailed the parish but no reply yet.
 
Jesus is the Light of the World. Art often uses the sun to represent this.
 
Remember the Adoration piece (forget exact name) is also in the shape of the sun.
 
NewUlm1976_2000 said:
Remember the Adoration piece (forget exact name) is also in the shape of the sun.
Click to expand...
I think you mean the monstrance. The monstrance is not always shaped like the sun, (our parish has two, one is shaped like a cross) but you are correct that this is not an uncommon shape for this vessel.
 
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