2018-11-28 Wed

The St. Gabriel Award for the best religious stamps of 2017 was shared by a Vatican City issue and a Polish stamp.

Designed by Daniela Fusco, the two Vatican City stamps were issued on 4th May 2017 and honour the 1950th death anniversary of Saints Peter and Paul. The €0.95 stamp depicts St. Peter; a rooster which points to the story where Peter denies of Jesus thrice before the rooster crows; and the keys to the kingdom of heaven. One of the keys is inverted as St. Peter was supposedly crucified upside down. The €1 stamp features an image of St. Paul, a book and a sword. The book denotes the letters written by St. Paul for Christian communities while the sword symbolises his sacrifice and the fact that he was a persecutor of Christians before he got converted.

Designed by Andrzej and Teresa Sowinscy, the 1.60-zloty Polish stamp was issued on 17th June 2017. It depicts a sculpture of St. Albert Chmielowski within a perforated heart. Chmielowski was a painter who founded the Brothers of the Third Order of St. Francis, Servants of the Poor, and Sisters Servants of the Poor. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II on 12th November 1989.

St. Gabriel is considered as the Lord’s postman. The annual award ceremony named after him to select the best religious postage stamps of the year was established in 1969 in Verona. The winners of this year’s award were announced on 7th October in Legnago. The jury was comprised of several important leaders and archbishops from the Christian community.

Image Courtesy: St. Gabriel Awards