(Click on pictures to see clearer, larger images)
Suspended over the high altar at Saint Thomas the Apostle Church in Irondequoit is a modern mid twentieth century presentation of Trinitarian imagery that may have first appeared around the 14th century in Europe. This traditional presentation of the Trinity is represented as three figures grouped within a circular mandorla or full body halo.
One figure, a dove, symbolizes God the Holy Spirit and occupies a position in the grouping between God the Father, represented as a large kingly figure and God the Son, crucified.
It is mildly interesting that Saint Thomas the Apostle Church is now home to the Traditional Latin Mass Community in Rochester which recently moved from a church, St. Stanislaus Kostka, that also had the same iconic imagery of the Trinity over its altar.
This icon of the Holy Trinity is actually quite common in the history of Christian art.
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Photo Credits:
Fig. 1 Bernard Dick
Fig. 2 Bernard Dick
Fig. 3 Bernard Dick
Fig. 4 http://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/17888/what-is-heavens-mercy-seat
Fig. 5 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Master_Gh_-_Holy_Trinity,_Central_Panel_from_the_High_Altar_of_the_Trinity_Church,_Mos%C3%B3c_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
Fig. 6 National Gallery, London
Fig. 7 http://idlespeculations-terryprest.blogspot.com/2011/05/envisioning-trinity.html
Fig. 8 www.sandrobotticelli.net
Fig. 9 http://www.backtoclassics.com/gallery/andreadelcastagno/theholytrinitystjeromeandtwosaints/
Fig. 10 http://www.wikiart.org/en/masaccio/the-trinity-1428
Fig. 11 http://idlespeculations-terryprest.blogspot.com/2011/05/envisioning-trinity.html
Fig. 12 http://truthhimself.blogspot.com/2012/06/solemnity-of-most-holy-trinity.html
Tags: Icons, Liturgical art
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Beautiful post! Msgr. Burns really knew what he was doing when he designed and built St. Thomas. A wonderful church for the preservation of our heritage!