Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Saints Constantine And Helen Greek Orthodox Church

Studio Name: Mellini Art Glass and Mosaics

City: Westland

Window Shape: 3 (arched)

Subject/Title of Window: The Resurrection of Christ

Brief Description of Subject: Architecturally these are three windows, however they form one story, the Resurrection of Christ. These icons are located behind the altar. The iconostasis (a screen with icons) separates the nave from the sanctuary where the altar is located. These days, it is rare outside the Orthodox churches to have screens. The use of these comes from the Jewish Temple where the altar was located behind a curtain that only the high priest could enter. These pictures were taken through the opening at the top of the Royal Door.
 
In this icon the risen Christ is pictured wearing a red robe, red is the color of blood symbolizing His human nature. Surrounding his head is a cruciform nimbus; stigmata is visible on his hands. His whole body is enclosed in a mandorla. In Orthodox iconography, the mandorla is only used for moments, like the resurrection, that transcend time and space. He is holding a pole with the victory over death banner.
 
Two angels, one on each side of Christ, have their origin from the making of the Ark of the Covenant (God's earthly home). God stipulated,"Make
one cherubim on one end and the second on the other ... The Cherubim are to face each other on the cover ... There, above the cover between them the two Cherubim, I will meet you."
 
The two frescos, each with an angel, and visible between the stained glass angels, are incensing the altar.
 
The inscription of the maker of the windows "Mellini  Florence  Italy" is found near the bottom of the left angel.

Height: Each lancet 7'

Width: Each lancet 3'

The MSGC is a constantly evolving database. Not all the data that has been collected by volunteers has been sorted and entered. Not every building has been completely documented.

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.

If you have any questions, additions or corrections, or think you can provide better images and are willing to share them, please contact donald20@msu.edu