THE ANGLICAN CHURCH.NET
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THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF VIRGINIA
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Meaning of the Crest and Bishop’s Seal
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Earthly designs serve to remind us of our duties 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 shield is the warrior’s shield of ancient time carried into battle for defense. We in the
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.
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 sits on the right
hand of God serving as our intercessor.
The white cross on the blue field has several meanings: It is the cross of St. Andrew who died on such a
cross, but more 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; that we
take each week His blood and body in order that we may take on His Nature and be strengthen to fight
the devil and his works.
• Finally, all these components rest on a red shield to remind us of His shed blood.
The Bishop’s Seal
The emblem for the bishops is in the shape of a ship upon which the children of God 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 peace, wisdom, knowledge and
inspiration.
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. It reminds us that the Historic Church is connected directly to Christ and His
earthly ministry.
The Latin words "esse quam videri" mean "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 received as He suffered on cross when he was
crucified.
The words and date that appear in the blue border give the members of the Church of Virginia an identity
and unity. 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
