Photo: Canterbury Cathedral Stained Glass

Medieval stained glass depiction of the Ascension of Christ with associated Old Testament "types." Corona Redemption Window (Corona I), c.1200-07. The depiction of the Ascension - with Christ's feet disappearing into the clouds while the apostles look up - reflects an Anglo-Saxon tradition, which differs from Early Christian representations of Christ ascending a mountain towards God's hand or lifted up in a mandorla by angels. Very similar compositions are in the St Alban's Psalter and Eadwine Psalter.

(1) On the top left is the Ascent of Elijah, which parallels the Ascension of Christ both visually and because Elias took up the mantle to carry on the departed leader's work, like the apostles. (2) On the right is King Hezekiah, Isaiah, and the Sundial of Ahaz (Isaiah 38:1-8). God granted Hezekiah 15 more years of life, and the sundial move back ten degrees as a sign. Here it represents deliverance and the "ascent" of the sundial by God's will.

(3) At bottom left is the Entry of the Priests into the Holy of Holies (3 Ki 1:8), in which the Ark of the Covenant is opened and "the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord." (4) The roundel on the bottom right depicts the Ascent of Enoch (Gen 5:21-24; Heb 11:5), who was taken up bodily into heaven. Enoch is shown twice: praying on the right and ascending on the left.

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