Samoan aganu'u and religious imagery

Nafanua, Samoa’s renowned atua and war goddess is just one of the many figures from cultural history on display in a church that highlights Samoan art, culture and religious imagery on its walls.

The Church of St Theresa of the Child Jesus took 8 years to complete and now stands resplendent in the village of Lepea celebrating religious narratives and Samoan cultural stories intertwined in one extraordinary building.  

The 46 stunning stained glass panels represent a significant biblical connection to the growth of Christianity and the Catholic Church in Samoa. 

There are three main entrances for the church and each have their own unique designs on striking display.

This includes the prophecies of Nafanua, the arrival of missionaries and the welcoming Tulafales.  The famous Samoan goddesses of tatau Taema and Tilafaega are depicted with images of the pe’a and malu, along with the battle between Samoa and Tonga

There are also images of of the history of traditional Samoan tattoo, the brotherly reunion, the call for freedom, and other Samoan legends in amongst the representations of the Hebrew saints of the Church.

The ceiling is an intricate intertwining of Samoan carvings and is an artwork into itself, and the Altar symbolises the Catholic Church's enculturation into the Samoan tradition.

The carvings inside the church were all carved and painted by local artists and the construction foreman and mastermind behind the masterpiece and very unique church building is Father Ricky Bernard. 

Source Information - Samoa Observer 

Photo Credits - Pania Schwenke & Samoa Observer 

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