THE ANGLICAN CHURCH.NET
Meaning of the Crest and Bishop’s Seal
Earthly designs serve to remind us of our duty to strive toward greater
Holiness, Love of God, service to our fellow human beings until He
returns and gathers His own unto Himself. These symbols individually
could represent many organizations and churches. However, together
they can only represent the Anglican Church of Virginia.
The Crest
The shape of the crest is the warrior’s shield of ancient time carried into
battle for defense. We in ACOVA are the “defenders of the Faith.”
The golden cross reminds us of the cross upon which Christ died because of
His love for us. He beatified an object of ugly death by His love for us.
The stripes on the golden cross remind us that by His stripes (those
imprinted upon His beaten and scourged body) we are healed.
The empty cross reminds us that He is no longer there but has ascended into
Heaven and is on the right hand of God serving as our Intercessor.
The golden cross on a red field, seamen know, is the nautical symbol for the
letter “R” reminding us of Jesus’ “resurrection.”
The white cross on the blue field has several meanings: It is the cross of St.
Andrew who died on such a cross, and importantly reminds us to be
missioners as he was. St Andrew, brought his brother, Simon Peter, to
Christ. It is the symbol of Scotland, from which the orders of the United
States came; the white representing the purity and peace that Christ gives;
the blue representing the unity of God’s people.
The chalice and bread are to remind us that the Holy Communion is the
focus of our worship. We are commanded by Jesus to take His Blood and
Body in order that we may take on His Nature and be strengthen to fight the
devil and his works.
The first record of art of the chalice and bread appearing on a church banner
was that of Jan Hus martyred in 1415. He fought for the people to have both
the Blood and Body at the Holy Communion. For this he was tried and
burned at the stake. Archbishop Johnson’s is descended from the family Hus.
Finally, all these components rest on a red shield to remind us of the shed
blood of Jesus Christ our Savior.
The Bishop’s Seal
The emblem for the bishop is in the shape of a ship upon which the children
of God find His saving Grace and are bound for His Glory. It offers a place
of safety and a haven from the restless seas of life on earth.
The blue border is the unity of God’s people that secures the Church and
binds His people together. The red background is the blood of Jesus
unselfishly shed that we might find salvation.
The open book bearing the numerals and letters “BCP 1928” designates the
book consisting of Scriptures from the Holy Bible and prayers that we study
and recite in our personal and corporate prayers. For Anglican believers, it is
the guide to greater holiness that brings unity, peace, wisdom, knowledge
and inspiration. It is the Book of Common Prayer which guides us in the
Anglican Way containing the Holy Liturgy.
The “V” recognizes the importance and role of the “Virgin Queen” Elizabeth,
the first in assuring our uniqueness and form of worship and the person for
whom the Colony of Virginia was named.
The date of “1607” commemorates the year of the first Holy Communion in
Virginia by our Anglican forebears and reminds us of their bravery and
suffering to establish the Nation now known as the United States of America.
The Mitre symbolizes the role of the Bishop of the Church, God’s chosen in
apostolic succession reaching back to St Peter and St. Paul. It reminds us
that the Church is connected directly to Christ and His earthly ministry.
The Latin phase “esse quam videri” means “to be truth rather than to seem
to be.” These words call us to the reality of the Truth and the Word, which
is Christ our Savior and represent our challenge as followers of Jesus Christ.
The five crosses remind us of the wounds that Jesus suffered on cross when
He was crucified.
The date is the time of the making of the first Bishop of the Anglican Church
of Virginia and the founding of the Anglican Church of Virginia.
The Anglican Church of Virginia, 582 Simons Way, Front Royal, Va 22630
1.540.635.5521
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