Immaculate Conception

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In the Roman Catholic Church, the belief that the Virgin Mary was, by a special act of grace, preserved free from original sin from the moment she was conceived. This article of the Catholic faith was for centuries the subject of heated controversy, opposed by St Thomas Aquinas and other theologians, but generally accepted from about the 16th century. It became a dogma in 1854 under Pope Pius IX.

The cross represents the Greek Orthodox faith. Blue stands for the sea and sky. The shade has varied over the years. White symbolizes purity. Effective date: 22 December 1978. >>