Gospel in Art: Saint Pancras, Martyr

The martyrdom of Saint Pancras, Stained Glass Window, Grote Kerk, Dordrecht, Netherlands © Alamy stock photo / Christian Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 12 May 2025
John 10:1-10

At that time: Jesus said, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.'

'When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.'

This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So Jesus again said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.'

Reflection on the Stained Glass window

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Pancras, whose name, Pancratios in Greek, means "the one who holds everything". Pancras was a young Roman orphan who embraced Christianity at a time when doing so meant risking everything. At just fourteen years old, he was martyred for his faith during the brutal persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian in 303 AD. Yes, he was only 14 when he was martyred! In the days leading up to his execution, Pancras was brought before the authorities and ordered to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods. Admiring the boy's courage and resolve, Diocletian is said to have offered him wealth and high status if he would renounce his faith. But Pancras stood firm, refusing all earthly rewards in favour of loyalty to Christ. Enraged by his defiance, the emperor condemned him to be beheaded on the Via Aurelia in Rome, a sentence carried out on 12 May 303 AD, the date we see inscribed at the base of our stained glass window and still the date for his feast day 1700 years later.

The stained glass window, located in the Grote Kerk in Dordrecht, Netherlands, beautifully captures the courage and faith of this young martyr. It presents two key scenes: on the left, the emperor attempts to lure Pancras with promises of riches, while a pagan statue looms in the background of the imperial palace, symbolising the false gods Pancras refused to worship. On the right, we witness the moment of his martyrdom: Pancras kneels in prayerful surrender, moments before his execution. His peaceful posture speaks volumes of his faith and trust in God, even in the face of death.

Saint Pancras knew what it truly meant to follow Christ and to live as His humble servant. Saint Pancras heard the voice of the Good Shepherd as per today's Gospel reading, and, even at such a young age, responded with a heart full of faith and courage. He recognised the call of Christ and chose to dedicate his entire life-brief though it was-to following Him without compromise. Pancras did not allow fear, temptation, or the allure of wealth and power to distract him from the path of discipleship. Having heard the Shepherd's voice, he knew to whom he belonged, and he trusted that laying down his life for Christ was not a loss, but a gain.

Saint Pancras, pray for us.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-10-1-10-2025/ (with audio)