Visions of God

The twelve domes and west wall in the main church of St Paul’s are all thematically linked as “visions of God.” Of the twelve domes, six of them are figurative. The figurative domes are split in half, so there are three domes with Old Testament visions (Daniel, Isaiah, and Ezekiel), and three domes with New Testament ones (Stephen, Paul, and John). The remaining six, non-figurative domes contain the cross with a wreath of victory, and they recall the vision of Constantine who was told “by this sign you shall conquer.” These domes were kept non-figurative as their chandeliers (also containing the same cross motif) slightly obstructs them. On the west wall is the ultimate vision of God- the transfiguration. 

This arrangement is heavily inspired by the recently uncovered sanctuary dome in the Monastery of the Syrians in Scetis. It is the product of three proposed themes, with the current iteration being chosen in collaboration with the bishops to reflect the reality of the liturgy. All the domes also have an underlying theme of the Eucharist/the Church, and the six figurative domes can also be thematically linked in sets of two–each with an Old and New Testament episode—Stephen with Daniel, Paul with Isaiah, and John with Ezekiel. The theme is also inspired by the pivotal moment in the life of the saint of the church- St Paul the Apostle.