Parish of St. John's, Montreal

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Civic heraldry of Canada > Ecclesiastical heraldry

ST. JOHN'S PARISH (Montreal, Quebec)

Denomination : Lutheran

Official blazon

Or on a mound Gules charged with a Luther rose (A rose Argent seeded of a heart Gules bearing a Latin cross Argent), an eagle rising Sable nimbed Argent beaked Or; Crest: On an escallop Gules three gouttes Argent; Motto: ES IST EIN ROS ENTSPRUNGEN

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on September 15, 2003.

The black, red and gold, being the colours of Germany, refer to the parish’s historic status as the German Evangelical Church of Montreal, and the red and white are the colours of Canada. The Luther Rose is a familiar symbol of Lutheranism, and is based on an emblem used by Martin Luther himself.

The eagle is the traditional symbol of St. John the Evangelist, and has thus been shown with the halo.

The scallop shell and drops refer to baptism, a point of unity among all Christians.

The motto ES IST EIN ROS ENTSPRUNGEN is the first line of a famous 15th-century German Christmas carol, and its most famous English translation is “Lo how a rose e’er blooming.” It is a reference to Christ, and in this case it also refers to the rose in the arms.