On the Right wall, facing the altar is located the triptych of Sts. Peter and Paul. This window is a three pane series depicting the Sts. Peter and Paul surrounding the "Barque of Peter".
Barque of Peter triptych
Barque of Peter Window (Center of triptych)
The center window of the triptych shows the Barque of Peter, a symbol of the Church. This is flanked by the window of St. Peter on the left and the Window of St. Paul on the right.
Drawing on the images of Christ teaching from the bow of St. Peter's fishing boat and of Christ, having calmed the storm at sea, climbing into the boat of the apostles, this symbol, the "Barque of Peter", is rich in hidden meaning. It symbolizes the Church founded on St. Peter. At the stern of the boat, the Chi--Rho (the first two letters of Christ's name in Greek) symbolizes Christ the steersman guiding His ship, the Church, through the storms of history.
The cross atop the mast symbolizes faith, the heart on the wind-filled sail symbolizes love, and the unseen anchor symbolizes hope.
While St. Peter, the first Pope, stands at the Left, St. Paul, the first great theologian, is depicted at the Right.
St. Peter Window (Left window of triptych)
St. Peter was a fisherman of Galilee, originally named Simon. His brother Andrew introduced him to Christ. Christ invited Peter to follow Him and changed his name to Peter and founded the Church upon him.
Christ gave him "the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 16:13-19), and in sacred art, St. Peter, the Bishop of Rome, the Vicar of Christ, and the first Pope, is often depicted holding a key.
The Gospels speak about St. Peter more than any other Apostle. After Christ's ascension into Heaven, St. Peter began his work as head of the Church. He dwelt in Rome intermittently for 25 years as founder and first Bishop of the Church there. Finally, in the last year of Nero's reign, 67 AD, he was crucified with his head downward (not deeming himself worthy of dying as did his Divine Master). Two epistles in the New Testament are attributed to him.
Together with St. Paul he is honored on June 29th.
St. Paul Window (right window of triptych)
St. Paul (depicted on the right) was born in Tarsus, Cilicia, as son of Jewish parents, around the beginning of the Christian era. He was a Roman citizen from birth.
Well educated in Jewish belief and practice, he actually persecuted the early Church for a while, but was converted to the Christian Faith and became its vigorous defender.
St. Paul became the "Apostle of the Gentiles", and he made three great missionary journeys to convert them. In his first journey (44/45--49/50 AD), he visited the island of Cyprus, then Pamphylia, Pisidia, and Lycaonia (all in Asia Minor), and he established churches in Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe.
Later, accompanied by Silas and Timothy and Luke, St. Paul made his second missionary journey (50--52/53 AD), revisiting the churches previously established by him in Asia Minor and then passing through Galatia. He later sailed to Europe, and preached the Gospel in Philippi, Thessalonica, Beroea, Athens and Corinth. Then he returned to Antioch by way of Ephesus and Jerusalem.
On his third missionary journey (53/54--58 AD), St. Paul visited nearly the same regions as on the second, but made Ephesus the center of his missionary activity.
Denounced as a Christian, St. Paul spent some years in prison or under house arrest, and finally sought to present his case before the Roman Emperor. St. Paul was condemned to death in 67 AD, and, being a Roman citizen, he was decapitated.
In sacred art, he is often depicted holding a book or a scroll (the symbol of his fourteen epistles and other writings) and a sword (the implement of his martyrdom).
Together with St. Peter, St. Paul is honored on June 29th.