Today, Word Sunday, we also commemorate the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle, a festival that since the 10th century remembers the radical change in the life of Saul of Tarsus. The choice of this date is not fortuitous, but is linked to the day when Saul, a student of the great Pharisee rabbi Gamaliel, had persecuted the Christians, but was suddenly converted on the road to Damascus, when our Lord appeared to him in His resurrected glory. From there, he took the name Paul and would become the “Apostle to the Gentiles.”
This important biblical event has been recorded in the artistic treasure of our Cathedral where you can see iconographic representations of great value that narrate this mystery:
Paintings: In the Chapel of San Francisco of the Cathedral of Seville there is the canvas titled The conversion of Saint Paula 17th-century work by the Flemish artist Frans Francken II.
St. Paul’s Chapel: Located at the head of the Cathedral, this chapel is a place of prayer dedicated specifically to the Apostle. Its altarpiece and sculptural decoration highlight its role as a column of the Church next to San Pedro.
Stained glass: The iconography of this Saint is also present in the stained glass window of the Cathedral, made in 1560 by Vicente Menardo. Located in the chapel of Santiago, this work represents the conversion of the Saint, evoking that transcendental moment. The stained glass window allows natural light to pass through the panes, symbolizing the dazzling light that Saul witnessed on his way to Damascus.
