Red Shoes
The stained glass windows are what interest most visitors to St. Mark’s church. They are
memorial windows dedicated to various members in the history of the parish, but they
also portray scenes from the life of Christ. The average person admires the colours and
often recognizes the story that is illustrated. A few, more knowledgeable about window
art, look for the careful details and shading that the artists have included.
During the medieval period in Europe, the makers of church windows attained a high
degree of craftsmanship. They saw their craft as a way of teaching illiterate people the
stories of the gospel. To assist in this, codes were developed for the use of colour. We
have lost something of the skill needed for reading such pictures. The average person of
that early period probably recognized that if the woman in the scene was dressed in pale
blue, it was the portrait of Mary, mother of Jesus. Angels were invariably shown in
brilliant white. A man dressed in a white garment represented Christ, although he might
well have an over garment of another colour.
Ann Lindsay, a member of the archives committee, was intrigued that in one of the early
windows, Mary is shown wearing red shoes. This seemed an anomaly in the portrayal of
the presentation of the infant in the temple. The older man holding the infant Christ is
obviously Simeon. The lines in the face of one woman identify the very elderly Anna.
Joseph is shown presenting a cage with doves to the priest as an offering of purification
of the infant. By his side is Mary with her red shoes.
Ann noticed the shoes and remembered that the late pope was interred with red shoes.
So she set about her inquiries and then reported, “The Papal slippers are an historical
vestment of the Roman Catholic Church traditionally worn by the Pope. They are a
form of episcopal sandals worn by early bishops. Red in color to symbolize the blood
of the martyrs, the slippers altogether symbolized the submission of the pope to the
ultimate authority of Jesus Christ.
“Elaborately embroidered, the Papal Slippers were made by hand with red satin, red silk,
gold threads and soles made of leather. Pope Paul VI discontinued their use in favour of
the outdoor red papal shoes. Pope John Paul II adopted his favourite cordovan leather
walking shoes made in his native Poland. Pope Benedict XVI has chosen to wear the red
papal shoes, similar to those worn by Paul VI.” And we thought only Dorothy wore red
shoes.
Our archivist has concluded tentatively that the artist has used the red slippers on the
kneeling form of Mary to symbolize her submission to the Christ Child who is being
presented in the temple.
With a casual look at the windows one cannot help but be impressed with the careful
workmanship and the vibrant colours that flood the church on a bright sunny day. A
more frequent and careful examination reveals a myriad of fascinating details.