| Our Lady of the Kremlin First window on the right side of the Church There are very few churches in the West, America, or Europe to have a stained glass window in honor of our Lady of the Kremlin. The genesis of this window possibly comes from the time before liturgical changes when after each Mass we recited three Hail Marys for the conversion of Russia. This appeal to Mary was a recognition that devotion to Mary had its strongest roots in the early Church in the East, and from her liturgies came our great Marian feasts. Devotion to Mary has occupied so large a place among the Russians, as witnessed by the most ancient icons that the world knows, that at times one would believe it more of a religion of Mary than of Christ. Old Russia was called the "House of the Mother of God". According to Russian Christianity, nothing can be achieved without the blessing and intercession of the Mother of God. The upper medallion of our window recalls this fact by repeating a title from Our Lady' s Litany, "Singular Vessel of Devotion". The image is of a large earthen vessel with the dove, a symbol of the Holy Spirit, hovering above. The large window is an image of Our Lady reminiscent of an icon. The bottom panel, Our Lady of the Kremlin, the Patroness of Russia, pictures the Kremlin, which is the citadel of power in the Russian Capital, Moscow. Now, because of the extraordinary events of our time, Mary will truly once again become the Mother of Russia, bringing her children back to the worship of her Son, the real power in all our lives. Our Lady of Russia, pray for us |
