The Hand of God Window
Other than memorials to families and loved ones, stained-glass windows contain much in the way of symbolism. A good example of this is The Hand of God window given by the Reverend and Mrs. William M. Kearons. Reverend Kearons was rector at Trinity from 1926-1930. His window is dedicated “To the Glory of God” and exhibits much in the way of symbolism.
The iconic Hand of God symbolically reaches down from the heavens and is posed with His fingers being in a traditional position to offer a blessing upon the earth. Also featured are the celestial bodies, sun and stars, with a scientific instrument (some think it is a microscope, some a telescope) in the lower right-hand corner perhaps representing human kind seeking the Truth. The five-pointed figure above the instrument may represent oneness, unity and interconnection within the universe. Another interpretation could be that this same figure could also represent the four elements: earth, air, fire, water and the fifth element that unites them all: spirit.
A quote from the Bible may help us with the spiritual representation: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
The colors used in creating the stained-glass windows are of utmost importance. The symbolism behind the usage of certain colors is as follows:
-Green: symbolizes growth and rebirth, spring, immortality and contemplation.
-Violet: stands for truth, suffering, passion and love.
-White: represents innocence and purity and is often related to God when it appears in church stained-glass windows.
-Red: The biblical meaning of red represents the blood of Christ. Red is a passionate color that represents strong emotions. It can also represent the martyrdom of various saints.
-Purple: is often associated with royalty, but it is believed that Christ wore purple at his crucifixion so the color in Christianity is for suffering and endurance.
-Blue: represents heaven and The Holy Spirit
-Black: associated with death and regeneration
-Brown: often worn by monks, is a symbol of renunciation of worldly things.
-Gray: a symbol of the immortality of the spirit and mourning.
-Yellow: the color used for the halo of saints and the Gates of Heaven. It symbolizes glory, power and divinity.
-Rainbow: symbolizes God’s unity
With the combination of symbols and colors, the Hand of God window reminds us of the power God has to accomplish his sovereign will. It is a symbol of guidance, instruction, power, compassion, strength and divine approval.