VITRAIL DE SAINT-MARTIN
Saint Martin of Tours is represented 8 times in the whole cathedral. We have for example behind the tomb a mural of the 14th century, representing him on his horse. He was bishop of the city at the end of the 4th century. He was know for giving half of his coat to a poor man during a very cold night of winter. That’s how he saved the life of this man.
The same scene is also represented on the huge painting behind you. It was painted by Schnetz in the 19th century.
There is a stained glass window telling his life as well,(in one of the chapels)
Something important to know before beginning: to read a stained glass window, it’s always from the bottom to the top and always from the left to the right!
- The first scene represents St Martin on his horse sharing his coat with the poor man.
- On the second level(left), Martin is asleep and has a vision of Christ who says:”whenever you do something for the poor, you do it for me”. At this time, Martin understood the message of charity.
- On the third level(left), Martin is like everyone, he is in touch with evil, symbolised here by the devil(the small character) who causes him fo falter( with kinda sword). But his faith, symbolised by an angel, saves and helps him to dicern between good and evil.
- (right)We can see that he becomes bishop of Tours.
- On the last level( left), we see Martin preaching in the country which is still pegan. And the country men are trying to kill him(they’re sawing a tree, so that it falls down on him) But his prayers save him from the death.
- (right)The country people saw this scene(miracle) and converted immediately into Christianity and asked to be baptised.
