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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: St. Hyacinth Roman Catholic Church

City: Detroit

Window Shape: 3 (arched)

Subject/Title of Window: Clerestory Window St. Fabian and St. Isidore

Brief Description of Subject: There are six such four lancet windows in the clerestory of the nave, each featuring saints in the center lancets and bookended by lancets designed to let light into the Church.
 
Pictured in the left lancet's medallion is the Ark of the Covenant. This is the place where God dwells, and was built to specifications given to Moses by God (Exodus 25:8 - 22). In Christian Iconography it is a symbol for the Virgin Mary as Jesus dwelt in her womb. This lancet was donated by John and Anastasia Jarzabek.
 
Pictured in the left center lancet is St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr (c.200 - 250). He was a Roman born into nobility. The story of how Fabian became Pope is found in Chapter 29 of "Church History VI" by 3rd Century historian Eusebius. He titled that chapter, "Fabianus, Who Was Wonderfully DESIGNATED BISHOP OF ROME BY GOD." Brief synopsis ---  After the death of the Pope Anteros, Fabian went to Rome as he was interested in the election of the next Pope. Although Fabius was not being considered, suddenly a WHITE DOVE flew down and landed on his head. The electors took this as a sign from the Holy Spirit, and without delay, elected him Pope. St. Fabian is pictured here wearing a pallium (symbol of papal authority). Above his head is a white dove in an aureole. In his left hand is an open book with the Latin words, "A Papa In." He is also seen holding a flowering rod, a symbol for "chosen by God." This comes from Numbers 17 --- The Israelites were rebelling against Moses' decision that his brother, a Levite, was to be the High Priest, and only Levites could be priests. To settle the rebellion, God had each of the 12 tribes place a rod in front of the tabernacle with the Levites rod to be that of Aaron. The one that flowered would be God's choice.. The next day the Israelites found that Aaron's rod had flowered. This lancet was donated by Robert and Martha Bielicki. 
 
Pictured in the right center lancet is St. Isidore of Madrid (1070 - 1130). He was a PEASANT employed as a farm laborer. Once when a landowner wanted to give him more WHEAT than the other workers, Isidore gave almost all of his wheat to the others; what little wheat he had left, God miraculously multiplied it. Another legend has the landowner irate that Isidore was PRAYING instead of working, but when he looked, he saw angels PLOWING the fields. He is pictured praying and garbed as a peasant. At his feet is a sheaf of wheat and the tang of mainshare and beam of a Medieval plow. This lancet was donated by Anthony Abram.
 
Pictured in the right lancet are the Instruments of the Passion. This lancet was donated by Joseph and Julianna Dziedzic.

Inscriptions: Jan I Anastaza Jarzabek
Robert I Marta Bielicki
Antoni Abram
Jozef I Julianna Dziedzic


Height: 6'

Width: 20'

Type of Glass and Technique: Opalescent Glass

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All images in the Index are either born-digital photographs of windows or buildings or are scans of slides, prints, or other published sources. These images have been provided by volunteers and the quality of the material varies widely.

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