ST. JAMES’S CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL OF RIGA IS THE CATHEDRAL OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF RIGA

Archbishop’s Coat of Arms

On the shield is depicted the Holy Spirit, descending upon Terra Mariana (Land of Mary) and renewing it. Terra Mariana, in turn, is offered to God in the perpetual Eucharistic sacrifice. The central axis of the coat of arms is formed by the Host (Jesus Christ), the Holy Spirit descending upon it, and, behind the shield, the Archbishop’s double cross (God the Father). The cross is stylized as the Jerusalem Cross (roots from the Promised Land) and represents the land dedicated to the patronage of Mary – Latvia (Terra Mariana). The colors have the following meaning: all divine persons are in gold (divine glory), the Holy Spirit (dove) on a red background (the color of martyrdom, purification, and renewal), TM in the same red color, with TM’s background in sand color (Latvian land, sea sands). Everything around is in green (the canonical color of archbishops), and below the shield is a pallium (three black crosses on a white ribbon) – a special symbol of authority and unity with the Pope, which the Pope personally places on the metropolitan’s shoulders. The motto is ‘The Lord is my strength and my defense’ (Exodus 15:2).