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Most Reverend John Kevin Boland, D.D.

Coat of Arms

Motto

"Christ in the Heart"

Blazon, Dexter

For the Diocese of Savannah

Blazon, Sinister

For Bishop Hartmayer

Processional Cross

The symbol of Episcopal Office

Pontifical Hat

Heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of Bishop
  • Motto

    "Christ in the Heart"
  • Blazon, Dexter

    For the Diocese of Savannah
  • Blazon, Sinister

    For Bishop Hartmayer
  • Processional Cross

    The symbol of Episcopal Office
  • Pontifical Hat

    Heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of Bishop
  • Motto

    Christus In Corde – Christ in the Heart – is adapted from the breastplate of St. Patrick: "Christ be in the heart of each to whom I speak, Christ be in the heart of each who speaks to me." The Latin words chosen can be either a statement or a wish, implying some form of "to be" – either "is" or "be," or both – and applies to the Bishop himself, as well as to those to whom he ministers.

  • Blazon

    Impaled Arms: On the dexter for the Diocese of Savannah; Argent on a cross gules, a rose or between four mullets azure. On the sinister for Bishop Boland; Azure a round tower or, on a chief of the last, a lion passant gules langued and armed of the first.
  • Meaning

    The Episcopal heraldic achievement, or bishop’s coat of arms, is composed of a shield, with its charges, a motto scroll, and the external ornaments indicating office. The shield is explained (in heraldic terms, blazoned) in twelfth century language and articulated as if it is being given to the bearer who will wear it on his arm. Thus, it must be remembered where the terms dexter (right) and sinister (left) are used, they are in fact, reversed as one view the shield from the front.

    It is Church tradition that when a Bishop becomes the Ordinary of a Diocese, the arms of his jurisdiction are joined (impaled) with his personal coat of arms. The Coat of Arms of the Diocese of Savannah appears in the dexter impalement (left side for the viewer) whilst that of Bishop Hartmayer appears in sinister (right side for the viewer). This custom of combining the two is meant to show the spiritual unity shared between the Bishop as Shepherd and the Diocese as his Flock – so core to the theology of being a Bishop - that he also wears a ring on his right hand as a symbol of this union.

The Coat of Arms of the Diocese of Savannah

The Coat of Arms for the Diocese of Savannah is a cross of red on silver background. The cross is in fact the Cross of St. George. This symbolizes the state of Georgia, which was named for King George II. The four blue stars signify that Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the Constitution of United States. The gold rose found in the middle of the cross is the Cherokee rose, the state flower of Georgia, and is also associated with the Rose of Sharon as well as Mary, the Mystical Rose.

The Coat of Arms of Bishop Emeritus Boland

The personal Arms of Bishop Boland consist of a blue (azure) shield charged with a round tower of gold (or), representative of St. Kevin, the bishop's patron saint who founded a monastic settlement at Glendalough, County Wicklow, where a round tower can be found to this day. In the "chief," or upper portion of the shield, is a red (gules) lion in a walking position with tongue and claws of blue. The chief and lion are found in the Arms of the Irish sept of Boland and the lion also commemorates the sept of O'Brien, the bishop's maternal family.

Processional Cross

BBehind the Arms is placed a gold processional cross for which Bishop Boland has chosen a Celtic cross signifying his homeland.

Pontifical Hat

Surrounding the shield and processional cross is the pontifical hat with six tassels on each side disposed in three rows, all in green. These are the heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of bishop in accordance with the Instruction of the Holy See, dated 31 March 1969. Before 1870, the pontifical hat, known as a galero, was worn at solemn cavalcades held in conjunction with papal ceremonies. The color of the hat and the number of tassels were signs of the rank of the prelate, a custom still preserved in ecclesiastical heraldry.

Executive Assistant

Bishop, Bishop Emeritus, Chancellor, Vocations Office
Maggie Blanc
912-201-4126

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Administrative Assistant

Maggie Blanc
912-201-4126


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