Faroe Islands 2020 - Chasubles (II)

Technical Details:

Issue Date: 21 September 2020
Designer: Paulina M. K. Eliasen and Jóhanna Jensen.
Printer: Cartor Security Printing, France
Process: Offset
Size: 40,0 x 30,0 mm
Values: 12,00 and 20,00 DKK

About Chasubles II

This year's issue in the series depicts chasubles in violet - the colour of the Advent and fasting - and white, the colour of Christmas and Easter.

Last year, Posta issued the first two stamps in a series on Faroese mass chasubles in the liturgical colours - at that time red and green. This year's issue in the series depicts chasubles in violet - the colour of the Advent and fasting - and white, the colour of Christmas and Easter.

The violet chasuble in this year's series belongs to the Church of Viðareiði on the island of Viðoy. The church got this chasuble in 2017 in connection with its 125th anniversary on December 10 - and in connection with the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The chasuble was made by Paulina M. K. Eliasen.

The violet chasuble is made of woolen material, decorated with the Luther Rose in the front and at the back, handsewn in cross-stitch and Gobelin needlework.

The Luther Rose

The Luther Rose is the most recognizable symbol of the Protestant Church. It was Martin Luther's private seal and appears for the first time in a letter from 1517. Reportedly, Luther himself designed the rose. The red heart with the black cross at the centre symbolizes the unreserved faith in Christ the Crucified and the love of His glad-tidings. The white rose symbolizes the joy, comfort and peace of faith in Christ. The blue background has spiritual significance as faith's hope of heavenly joy, which, according to Luther, begins already in this earthly life. The golden circle around the blue signifies that heavenly joy will last forever and is more precious than other joys and pleasures.

The White Chasuble

The white mass chasuble belongs to the Church of Kvívík on Streymoy. It is knitted and decorated with a cross and a ribbon bearing various Christian symbols. The church got this simple and beautiful chasuble in 1989. It was made by Jóhanna Jensen in Nýggjustovu.

Crosses and Symbols

The white chasuble is decorated with a large cross and a ribbon at the bottom. Furthermore, both crosses and ribbons are decorated with various symbols, taken from the carved bars in the church chancel - which, moreover, stem from the old church situated at the site until 1903, when the present church was built. It is a bit unclear what several of the signs symbolize, but one can recognize the Sacrament’s chalice, cross and shamrock which symbolize the Trinity. White is the oldest liturgical colour symbolizing joy, celebration and birth.

Anker Eli Petersen