The Church of the Redeemer Sarasota, Florida

The Pelican

Opposite the crucifix is the symbol of a white

adult pelican with three smaller pelicans.

Resonating with the image of Christ on the

cross, the mother pelican has pierced her

own chest with her beak, her blood giving sustenance and

life to her offspring. The pelican as a symbol of Christ is also

a symbol of the atonement. Through the sacrifice of Christ

on the cross, through the shedding of his blood, humanity is

reconciled to God. This scene of sacrifice and salvation has

been adopted by the Church of the Redeemer as its official

parish seal.

Below the pelicans, the Star of David, representing the Old

Testament, is presented on a double-horned stand. The sixpointed

Star of David, formed from two triangles, is the

symbol of Israel, and in the context of this icon represents

the people of God.

At the Star’s highest point, a cross with two arms extends.

The top arm of the cross is longer than the second arm, and

a small, slanted third arm appears almost at the base of the

cross. This cross is most commonly used in the Eastern

Orthodox Church.

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