Why a Winged Lion?

The winged lion is the symbol of St. Mark the Evangelist, and is used as the logo for our parish.  This symbol comes from St. Mark's description of John the Baptist's voice "crying out in the wilderness" upon hearing the Word of God (Mark 1:3).  His voice is said to have sounded like that of a roaring lion. This lion symbolism also appears in a vision of the Prophet Ezekiel where four winged creatures represent the four evangelists (Ezekiel 1:10).

 

St Mark, represented as a lion, is also derived from the prophetic visions contained in the verse Revelations 4:7.  The lion is one of the four living creatures described in the book as a place around the throne of the Almighty and they are chosen as symbols of the four evangelists. Matthew is depicted as a human, Mark as a lion, Luke as a bull, and John as an eagle.

 

The Lion of Saint Mark is also the symbol of the city of Venice.  Venetian tradition states that when St. Mark was traveling through Europe, he arrived at a lagoon in Venice, where an angel appeared to him and said "May Peace be with you, Mark, my evangelist. Here your body will rest."  The remains of St. Mark are interred in the Basilica of St. Mark which is located in the famous St. Mark Square (Piazza San Marco) of Venice.

Reminiscent of the towering campanile (belltower) with it's magnificent winged lion in Venice we have our own magnificent winged lion, Eric who lives atop our beautiful campanile.  He is serenaded by the chiming of our 3 bronze bells while he faithfully watches over our church both day and night.