The north side of the church was usually considered the dark side, and therefore the Old Testament figures were put on that side, with the New Testament stories on the south, lighter side, corresponding with Christ's words: "I am the light of the world."
The sculpture in the north porch shows the origins of Christ's church and prophesies his coming, using the prophets of the Old Testament. Mary is glorified as the way in which Christ, and so his church, was brought into the world. The sculpture over the central door shows Mary's death and her assumption. In the center of the scene she sits on a throne, crowned as the Queen of Heaven. In the left bay, the visitation of Mary by her cousin Elizabeth is shown in beautifully soft statues of the two women.
Surrounding the figures of Christ and Mary are Old Testament prophets Melchizedek, Moses, Aaron, David, Simeon, Jeremiah, Abraham, and the kings and queens of Judah. The statue of Abraham is particularly beautiful. Abraham prepares to sacrifice his son Isaac, but he holds the child's chin gently in his hand, looking away as the child looks up innocently at the angel above them. His father's feet stand on the ram that will be sacrificed instead of his son. In the central [G 03 / archivolt], is the story of Adam and Eve and their fall from grace.
