St Giles - West Door
© Rosslyn Templars
When the sun shone on the west door the stonework took on a distinctly orange tinge. The main carving shows St Giles. He was a hermit who lived in a forest in France and befriended all the animals that lived there. One particular day the king was out hunting and attempted to kill a deer with an arrow. The went to St Giles for protection. The arrow wounded both the deer and St Giles and one can see the arrow which goes through the saint's right hand and into the deer. He became the patron saint of cripples and many churches were dedicated to him throughout Europe during the Middle Ages.
The two panels below and to the right and left contain angels with the legends: Blessed are the pure in heart and Blessed are the merciful.