Agwe

Pierre, Andre (Haitian, 1916 – 2005)

Agwe is the protector of all sailors, of every ship, big or small. It is every ship’s captain. It owns a green “pawoket” fish. This fish goes back to the time when Christ was preaching about the kingdom of God and Herod was king. King Herod called Peter and told him to ask Jesus to pay taxes. Peter reported the matter to Jesus who asked him to walk along the seashore where he would find a green “pawoket” fish. Jesus asked Peter to kill that fish, to cut it open, and to remove two coins to Herod, one for Jesus, one for himself. We are thus reminded of Jesus’s words: “Give to Caesar what is to Caesar and to God what is to God.” Or in different words, “Give the earth what is to the earth, and to the sky what is to the sky.” Since then Peter had dominion over the sea.

Painting
Agwe