Who is Moses ?

In the New Testament, Moses brings the Law, while Christ brings Grace. In the wilderness, Moses raises the "bronze" or "brazen" serpent, a prefiguration of Christ, who saves those who turn to Him, as referenced in the Gospel of John.

In the stained-glass cycle of Châlons Cathedral, dating from the mid-12th century, the Crucifixion is surrounded by Old Testament episodes, including the Sacrifice of Isaac and Moses with the bronze serpent. All these scenes are contained within a single panel, allowing the artist to forgo explicitly detailing their connections. While the stained-glass technique enables a simplified two-dimensional representation, the three-dimensional iconographic program of the cloister presents a more condensed version of these themes.

Typological stained glass of Châlons-en-Champagne Cathedral
Bay 2: The Redemption, between 1125–1150
Photo © Garitan, Wikimedia Commons