St James
The sword and the shell is the symbol
for James the Greater, brother of John. Tradition attributes James
with wide travels and therefore the scallop shell, a symbol of pilgrimage,
is used in his shield. The sword is indicative of James' martyrdom
by Herod, assumed to be by beheading. The Jerusalem Cross depicted
in the top panel symbolizes missionary work and the small crosses appearing
in the four quadrants of the large cross represent the gospel being spread
to the four corners of the earth. Since most of James' travels were
believed to have been made over water, a boat is depicted in the bottom
panel.
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