The windows in the ambulatory of the Our-Lady-Of-Pamele Church in Oudenaarde
The Our Lady of Pamele church (Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Pamele) is the other church in the city center of Oudenaarde, on the other side of the Scheldt river. it is a smaller early gothic church (built between 1234-1300), it is a church typical for the style of ‘scheldt-gothic’)
The church is rich in artworks and stained glass, which is too much for one page so it will be over several pages. This page is about the windows in the ambulatory, the part of the church where you can go around the choir.
The windows were made by Auguste Ladon, from Ghent in 1935. His also made the north window and the windows in the choir of the Saint-Walburga Church in Oudenaarde. People with a keen eye will definately note that some scenes are almost the same as in the Saint-Walburga church.
the windows are to be read from left to right, and there are 9 sets of windows, the first and the last consist of 2 windows, with in between seven sets of three. before we go into each scene first the 9 sets of windows:








As you can note each window has three elements, a center scene from the new testament, with below a scene from the old testament that is linked to it, with on top, generally an angel, mostly holding a text or or another scene to the center scene. the windows are set chronologically, with the central window being the crucifiction. so let’s now take a look at each of the windows one by one. beginning usually with the middle scene.
Set 1: protogospel
the first set is about what is called the proto gospel, as it happens before the gospel. the depicted scenes are not based on official scripture, but on a non canonical tradition



the first scene is the meeting of Joachim and Anna (Mary’s parents) at the golden gate.

below is the birth of Mary. this scene also appears in Cologne’s older bible window

on top is an angel holding the text “Ave Maria Gratia plena” – “Hail Mary full of grace” the first words of the hail mary prayer
Next again on top, is mary being dedicated to the temple by her parents.

next on the lower part is the marriage of Mary an Joseph.

Set 2: up to Christmas
the Second set centers around the events before and up to the birth of Jesus: The annunciation, the visitation and the the birth of Jesus.




The first scene is the annuciation. (Luke 1,26-38)
Bible Text
Luke 1,26-38
26 In the sixth month of Elizabethโs pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virginโs name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, โGreetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.โ 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, โDo not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacobโs descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.โ 34 โHow will this be,โ Mary asked the angel, โsince I am a virgin?โ 35 The angel answered, โThe Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.โ 38 โI am the Lordโs servant,โ Mary answered. โMay your word to me be fulfilled.โ Then the angel left her.
(from biblegateway NIV)
below is the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:8-23)
A very interesting element in this window is that Mary appears in the scene. This is uncommon, but not so strange. The eating of the apple of the tree of knowledge is ‘the original sin’, Mary is the counterpoint of this. it contrasts Eve’s disobedience against Mary’s obedience, and also hints at Mary giving birth to Jesus who is offering humankind a path to salvation. (the same scene, including Mary is also in the genesis window in the Saint Walburga Church in Oudenaarde)
Bible Text
Gen 3:8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, โWhere are you?โ 10 He answered, โI heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.โ 11 And he said, โWho told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?โ 12 The man said, โThe woman you put here with meโshe gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.โ13 Then he Lord God said to the woman, โWhat is this you have done?โ The woman said, โThe serpent deceived me, and I ate.โ14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, โBecause you have done this,โCursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.โ16 To the woman he said, โI will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.โ 17 To Adam he said, โBecause you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, โYou must not eat from it,โ โCursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground,since from it you were taken;for dust you are and to dust you will return.โ20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, โThe man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.โ 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.
From biblegateway NIV

on top is an agel holding the text: “Angelus domini nonceavit mariae” – “an angel of the lord declared to Mary”, the first words of the angelus prayer, referring to the annunciation.


Next is the visitation, when Mary visits her cousin Elisabeth (Luke 1:39-45), sided by their respective husbands, Joseph and Zachary. the lilies in the middle are a flower symbolising chastity, which is linked to Mary.
Bible Text
Luke 1:39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariahโs home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Maryโs greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: โBlessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!โ
From Biblegateway NIV
The linked scene, below, is Moses returning to Jethro, his father in law after meeting God in the burning bush, asking him to go back to Egypt to his own people. (Exodus 4:18-20)
Bible Text
Exodus 4:18 Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, โLet me return to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive.โ Jethro said, โGo, and I wish you well.โ 19 Now the Lord had said to Moses in Midian, โGo back to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you are dead.โ 20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.
From Biblegateway NIV

above is nother linked scene with Jacob visits Laban (Genesis 29:16-21)
Bible Text
Genesis 29:16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, โIโll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.โ19 Laban said, โItโs better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.โ 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, โGive me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.โ
From Biblegateway NIV


the central window shows the birth of Jesus (Luke 2: 4-7)
Bible Text
Luke2: 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
From Biblegateway NIV
Below is God appearing in the burning bush to Moses (Exodus 3:4-6)
Bible Text
Exodus3:4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, โMoses! Moses!โ And Moses said, โHere I am.โ 5 โDo not come any closer,โ God said. โTake off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.โ 6 Then he said, โI am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.โ At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
From Biblegateway NIV

Above is an angel holding the text: “Et verbo caro factus est” – ‘the word became flesh’ (John 1:14)

Set 3: After Christmas
the third set is showing events from just after Jesus’ birth: the adoration of the magi, Jesus being dedicated in the temple and the flight to Egypt.




the first scene is the adoration of the magi (Matthew 2:1-12)
Bible text
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, โWhere is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.โ 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the peopleโs chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 โIn Bethlehem in Judea,โ they replied, โfor this is what the prophet has written: 6 โBut you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.โ 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, โGo and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.โ 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
from biblegateway NIV
the linked scene below is the queen of Sheba with king Solomon. (1 Kings 10:1-13)
Bible Text
1 Kings 10:1 When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions. 2 Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravanโwith camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stonesโshe came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. 3 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. 4 When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, 5 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed. 6 She said to the king, โThe report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. 8 How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lordโs eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.โ 10 And she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 11 (Hiramโs ships brought gold from Ophir; and from there they brought great cargoes of almugwood and precious stones. 12 The king used the almugwood to make supports for the temple of the Lord and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. So much almugwood has never been imported or seen since that day.) 13 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.
From Biblegateway NIV

above is angel holding the text “[Sed et ] Regina Saba audita fama salomonis” (1 Kings 10:1)- “[and when] the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon”


next is the presentation of Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:22-40)
Bible Text
Luke 2:22
From Biblegateway NIV
the scene below shows the presentation of a firstborn in the temple, according to Jewish tradition (Exodus 13:1-2)
Bible Text
Exodus 13:1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 โConsecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.โ
From Biblegateway NIV

the scene above shows the child Samuel being given to the temple. (1 Samuel 1:24-28)
Bible Text
1 Samuel 24 After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. 25 When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, 26 and she said to him, โPardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. 27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.โ And he worshiped the Lord there.
From Biblegateway NIV


the third New testament scene shows the flight to Egypt of Jesus Mary and Joseph. (Matthew 2:13-15)
Bible Text
Matthew 2:13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. โGet up,โ he said, โtake the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.โ 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: โOut of Egypt I called my son.โ
From Biblegateway NIV
the scene below shows Jacob fleeing for Esau after stealing the blessing from Isaac from Esau’s revenge (Genesis 27:41-45)
Bible Text
41 Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, โThe days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.โ 42 When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, โYour brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you. 43 Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Harran. 44 Stay with him for a while until your brotherโs fury subsides. 45 When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, Iโll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?โ
From Biblegateway NIV

On top the angel holds the text: “fuge ad Laban frat[r]em meum in Haran” (genesis 27:43) – Flee at once to my brother Laban in Harran. (the ‘r’ in fratrem seems to have been lost somewhere)

Set 4: From Baptism till palm Sunday
the fourth set shows some events before the passion, going from the the baptism, over the raising of Lazarus to Palm Sunday




the first New testament scene is the baptism of Jesus by John the baptist (Luke 3:21-22)
Bible Text
Luke 3:21-22
21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: โYou are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.โ
From Biblegateway NIV
this is linked to the israelites leaving Egypt through the red sea (Exodus 14:15-22)
Bible Text
Exodus 14:15 Then the Lord said to Moses, โWhy are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.โ 19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israelโs army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
From Biblegateway NIV

on top the angel holds the text “filis Israel in medio mari par diccum ex XIIII” referring to the verse in exodus 14:16. “filii Israel in medio mari per siccum.” – “[so that the] Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground” – noteworthy is the mistake in the text “Diccum” in stead of “Siccum”
Bible Text
From Biblegateway NIV


in the middle there is the raising of Lazarus (John 11:38-44)
Bible Text
John 11:38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 โTake away the stone,โ he said. โBut, Lord,โ said Martha, the sister of the dead man, โby this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.โ40 Then Jesus said, โDid I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?โ 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, โFather, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.โ 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, โLazarus, come out!โ 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, โTake off the grave clothes and let him go.โ
From Biblegateway NIV
this is, below, linked to the prophet Elisah raising a child from the dead (2 Kings 4:31-37)
Bible Text
31 Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the boyโs face, but there was no sound or response. So Gehazi went back to meet Elisha and told him, โThe boy has not awakened.โ32 When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. 33 He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 34 Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boyโs body grew warm. 35 Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.36 Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, โCall the Shunammite.โ And he did. When she came, he said, โTake your son.โ 37 She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out.
From Biblegateway NIV

on top is Elijah raising a young man from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24)
Bible Text
1 Kings 17:17 Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, โWhat do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?โ19 โGive me your son,โ Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord, โLord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?โ 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, โLord my God, let this boyโs life return to him!โ22 The Lord heard Elijahโs cry, and the boyโs life returned to him, and he lived. 23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, โLook, your son is alive!โ24 Then the woman said to Elijah, โNow I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.โ
From Biblegateway NIV


The third window have Jesus entering Jerusalem under praise on palm sunday (John 12:12-19)
Bible Text
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, โHosanna!โ โBlessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!โ โBlessed is the king of Israel!โ 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 โDo not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkeyโs colt.โ 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, โSee, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!โ
From Biblegateway NIV
this is linked below with David entering Jerusalem after killing Goliath (1 Samuel 17:50-54)
Bible Text
1 Samuel 17:50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistineโs sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. 53 When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp. 54 David took the Philistineโs head and brought it to Jerusalem; he put the Philistineโs weapons in his own tent.
From Biblegateway NIV

om top the angel holds the text “et a erret caput eius in jerusalem” (1 Samuel 17:54) – “and brought his head in to Jerusalem”
Bible Text
From Biblegateway NIV

Set 5: The crucifiction
the fifth set is centered around the sacrifical death of Jesus on the cross




The first New Testament window is Jesus carrying the cross (John 19:16-17)
Bible Text
John 19: 16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
From Biblegateway NIV
This is linked to Isaac carrying the wood for the sacrifice by Abraham (Genesis 22:1-6a)
Bible Text
Genesis 22:1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, โAbraham!โ โHere I am,โ he replied. 2 Then God said, โTake your son, your only son, whom you loveโIsaacโand go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.โ 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, โStay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.โ 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife.
From Biblegateway NIV

on top the prophet holds the text: “Et ego quasi agnus mansuetus, qui portatur ad victimam” (Jeremiah 11:19a): “I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter;”


The middle window has the crucifiction, with Mary and John standing by (John 19:25-27)
Bible Text
John 19:25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his motherโs sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, โWoman,[b] here is your son,โ 27 and to the disciple, โHere is your mother.โ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
From Biblegateway NIV
below, continuing from the image on the left, is Abraham being stopped by an angel from the sacrifice of Isaac. (Genesis22:6b-14)
Bible Text
Genesis 22:6b As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, โFather?โ โYes, my son?โ Abraham replied. โThe fire and wood are here,โ Isaac said, โbut where is the lamb for the burnt offering?โ 8 Abraham answered, โGod himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.โ And the two of them went on together. 9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, โAbraham! Abraham!โ โHere I am,โ he replied. 12 โDo not lay a hand on the boy,โ he said. โDo not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.โ 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, โOn the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.โ
From Biblegateway NIV

On top is the scene of the bronze snake (Numbers 21:4-9)
Bible Text
Numbers 21:4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, โWhy have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!โ 6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, โWe sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.โ So Moses prayed for the people. 8 The Lord said to Moses, โMake a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.โ 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
From Biblegateway NIV


on the right is a ‘pieta’, the scene is not literally described in the bible but is a popular image in art.
in the scene below Naomi mourns her son (Ruth 1:1-4)
Bible Text
1 In the days when the judges ruled,[a] there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The manโs name was Elimelek, his wifeโs name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. 3 Now Elimelek, Naomiโs husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.
From Biblegateway NIV

The angel on top holds the text: “Quid sunt plaqae istae in medio manuum tuarum – Jerem.13:16″ the text “Quid sunt plagae istae in medio manuum tuarum” (with q in stead of q, appears in the book of Zacharias 13:6 and not in jeremiah 13:16, translate as: โWhat are these wounds on your body

Set 6: the resurrection
the sixth set centers around the resurrection



First we see Jesus conquering hell. This is also not appearing in the gospedl, but does appear in the apostles’ creed:
Creed Text
I Believe […} in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

Below is samson winning the fight against a lion with his bare hands (Judges 14:5-6a)
Bible Text
Judges 14:5 Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. 6 The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat.
From Biblegateway NIV

above is an angel holding the text “et dilaceravit leone judicum xiiiii” – “he tore the lion apart Judges 14”


The middle one shows the resurrection. an event dat is not literally described in the gospel, only that the tomb was empty (John 20:1-8). As usual the soldiers are not wearing Roman clothing, but medieval chain mail
Bible Text
1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, โThey have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we donโt know where they have put him!โ 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesusโ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.
From Biblegateway NIV
Below is again samson, carrying the gates of Gaza (Judges 16:1-3)
Bible Text
Judges 16:1 One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her. 2 The people of Gaza were told, โSamson is here!โ So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, โAt dawn weโll kill him.โ 3 But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.
From Biblegateway NIV

on top we see Jonah coming on land after three days in a fish (Jonah 2:1-10)
Bible Text
1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said:
โIn my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. 3 You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. 4 I said, โI have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.โ 5 The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit.
7 โWhen my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. 8 โThose who cling to worthless idols turn away from Godโs love for them.
9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, โSalvation comes from the Lord.โโ 10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
From Biblegateway NIV


The third window shows the women finding the grave empty (Matthew 28:5-7)
Bible Text
5 The angel said to the women, โDo not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: โHe has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.โ Now I have told you.โ
From Biblegateway NIV
below is Rueben finding the well empty, after his brothers sold Joseph to Egypt (Genesis 37:26-30)
Bible Text
Genesis 37:26 Judah said to his brothers, โWhat will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, letโs sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.โ His brothers agreed. 28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. 29 When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. 30 He went back to his brothers and said, โThe boy isnโt there! Where can I turn now?โ
From Biblegateway NIV

The angel on top holds the text: “Reversuque ruben at cisternum Gen xxxvii” which is referring to the text from Genesis 37:26 “Reversusque Ruben ad cisternam” (note again the errors in speling) translates as : “when rueben came back to the cistern.”
Bible Text
From Biblegateway NIV

Set 7: Easter day
the seventh set centers on events just after the resurrection




the first scene is Mary Magdalen meeting the resurrected Jesus (as a gardener) (John 20:11-18)
Bible Text
John 20:11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesusโ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, โWoman, why are you crying?โโThey have taken my Lord away,โ she said, โand I donโt know where they have put him.โ 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, โWoman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?โ Thinking he was the gardener, she said, โSir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.โ 16 Jesus said to her, โMary.โ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, โRabboni!โ (which means โTeacherโ). 17 Jesus said, โDo not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, โI am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.โโ 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: โI have seen the Lord!โ And she told them that he had said these things to her.
From Biblegateway NIV
below is the bride finding her groom (Song of Songs 3:1-5)
Bible Text
Song of Songs 3:
1All night long on my bed
I looked for the one my heart loves;
I looked for him but did not find him.
2 I will get up now and go about the city,
through its streets and squares;
I will search for the one my heart loves.
So I looked for him but did not find him.
3 The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city.
โHave you seen the one my heart loves?โ
4 Scarcely had I passed them
when I found the one my heart loves.
I held him and would not let him go
till I had brought him to my motherโs house,
to the room of the one who conceived me.
5 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you
by the gazelles and by the does of the field:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires.
From Biblegateway NIV

on top is an angel holding the text : inveni quem diligit anima mea Cant III’ : ‘i found the one my heart loves’ (song of songs 3:4).


in the middle is Jesus teaching the disciples (John 20:19-20)
Bible Text
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, โPeace be with you!โ 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
From Biblegateway NIV
the scene below shows Joseph revealing himself to his brothers (Genesis 45:1-7)
Bible Text
Genesis 45:1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, โHave everyone leave my presence!โ So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaohโs household heard about it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, โI am Joseph! Is my father still living?โ But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, โCome close to me.โ When they had done so, he said, โI am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
From Biblegateway NIV

on top is the return of the prodigal son (Luke 15:20b-24)
Bible Text
Luke 15:20b So he got up and went to his father. โBut while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 โThe son said to him, โFather, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.โ 22 โBut the father said to his servants, โQuick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Letโs have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.โ So they began to celebrate.
From Biblegateway NIV


the third window shows Jesus with the disciples in emmaus (Luke 24:28-35)
Bible Text
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, โStay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.โ So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, โWere not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?โ 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, โIt is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.โ 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
From Biblegateway NIV
the scene below shows Isaac blessing Jacob in stead of Esau (Genesis 27:5-30)
Bible Text
Genesis 27:5 Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, โLook, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, 7 โBring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.โ 8 Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: 9 Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it. 10 Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies.โ11 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, โBut my brother Esau is a hairy man while I have smooth skin. 12 What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing.โ13 His mother said to him, โMy son, let the curse fall on me. Just do what I say; go and get them for me.โ14 So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked it. 15 Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins. 17 Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made.18 He went to his father and said, โMy father.โ [โฆ.] 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, โCome near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.โ22 Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, โThe voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.โ 23 He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he proceeded to bless him. [โฆ.] 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, โCome here, my son, and kiss me.โ 27 So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him [โฆ]30 After Isaac finished blessing him, and Jacob had scarcely left his fatherโs presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting.
From Biblegateway NIV

the text reads “benedicens ergo illi gen xxvii” – “So he blessed him Genesis 27”

Set 8: the ascension and pentecost
the eigth set shows the events up untill pentecost




the first scene shows doubting Thomas (John 20:24-29)
Bible Text
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, โWe have seen the Lord!โ But he said to them, โUnless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.โ 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, โPeace be with you!โ 27 Then he said to Thomas, โPut your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.โ 28 Thomas said to him, โMy Lord and my God!โ 29 Then Jesus told him, โBecause you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.โ
From Biblegateway NIV
below is Jakob fighting the angel (Genesis 32:22-30)
Bible Text
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacobโs hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, โLet me go, for it is daybreak.โ But Jacob replied, โI will not let you go unless you bless me.โ 27 The man asked him, โWhat is your name?โ โJacob,โ he answered. 28 Then the man said, โYour name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.โ 29 Jacob said, โPlease tell me your name.โ But he replied, โWhy do you ask my name?โ Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, โIt is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.โ
From Biblegateway NIV

on top is an angel holding the text “et mittam manum meam in latus ejus” (John 20:25b) – “unless “and put my hands in his side”, being a part of what Thomas says to the other disciples


the second new testament scene is the ascension (Luke 24:50-53)
Bible Text
Luke 24:50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
From Biblegateway NIV
below is the ascension of Enoch
Bible Text
From Biblegateway NIV

on top is Elijah taken into heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11-12)
Bible Text
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, โMy father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!โ And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.
From Biblegateway NIV


the last is pentecost (Acts 2:1-4)
Bible Text
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
From Biblegateway NIV
below is Moses receiving the ten commandments (Exodus 20:1-17)
Bible Text
Exodus 20:1 And God spoke all these words: 2 โI am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 โYou shall have no other gods before me. 4 โYou shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 โYou shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 8 โRemember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 โHonor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 13 โYou shall not murder. 14 โYou shall not commit adultery. 15 โYou shall not steal. 16 โYou shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17 โYou shall not covet your neighborโs house. You shall not covet your neighborโs wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.โ
From Biblegateway NIV

on top is an angel holding the text “et replete sunt omnes spiritu st” (Acts 2:4a) – “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit”

Set 9: The last Judgement
the ninth set is on the left the coronation of Mary in the same system as before, and on the right an image of the last judgement and John and Mary and the angels before an enthroned Christ



on top is the coronation of Mary. This is not found in the gospel, but a long standing tradition in the catholic church of Mary as queen of Heaven (Regina Coeli)

below is the coronation of Esther (Esther 2:17-18)
Bible Text
Esther 2:17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 And the king gave a great banquet, Estherโs banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.
From Biblegateway NIV

on top is just an angel, this time not holding a text
at the bottom is a depiction of the last judgement, with the souls being weighed by the archangel and going to heaven on the left side or hell on the right side. (the colors on this picture are a bit distorted due to the fact that very little light from the outside shines through the lower part of the window)

above is Christ enthroned with angels holding the cross and the spear, and Mary and Saint John the baptist.

on top is an angel, again without text

This concludes the stained glass in the ambulatory, going through the whole story of Salvation, and given that the tree of Jesse window is just next to the beginning of this walk, it goes from king David through Mary through the incarnation (God becoming man at christmas) through the crucifiction and resurrection, the sending of the holy spirit up to the last judgement….
Thank you for bearing with me and if you have remarks/comments please feel free to leave them in the comments section below
All pictures taken by me and copyrighted, on 17 May 2025 and 28 September 2025
Source
Inventaris van Het kunstpatrimonium van Oost-Vlaanderen – De Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkerk van Pamele te Oudenaarde II.Kunstwerken, Lic. Rosa Van Den Abeele-Bellon, Gent, 1979. (NL)
