NARRATOR: This shrine from an originally polychromed, or multi-colored, altarpiece represents the death or dormition of the Virgin Mary. She lies on her bier, surrounded by the apostles in lamentation. The apostle Peter stands directly behind the bed holding a book. The layering of the figures gives a great sense of spatial depth to the scene. The shrine is carved in low relief out of oak. The piece originally had two wings attached to it depicting the Birth of the Virgin on the left and the Adoration on the right, and a projection above showing Christ receiving the Virgin's soul. In one of his sermons on the Assumption, Saint Augustine said, "If the death of all the saints is precious, the death of Mary is beyond price. Therefore I deem that it must be confessed that Mary, by the bounty of Christ, was assumed into the joy of eternity, and was received more honorably than others, since she was honored above all others by grace..."