On Sunday, April 10, 2016, I had the opportunity to tour the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis with one of my classmates, Mike Zervogiannis. Father Nicholas Smith was grateful enough to give up his Sunday night to give us a tour of the spectacular church. When I first arrived to the site, I could not believe how massive and unique the building was. The church looked like an ancient temple that would be seen in a different country. In addition, the massive double doors made the church look even more intimidating to a person who has never been there. As I walked inside, I was astonished by the murals on the wall inside of the corridor. Father Smith said that the murals inside the corridor were the most magnificent ones in the entire cathedral. One of the most amazing things on the murals in the corridor, was these vines that had flowers and birds. What made the mural even more amazing was that the vines spread throughout the entire cathedral. As the tour continued, it was brought to my attention that the vines, flowers, and birds symbolized paradise and Garden of Eden. It is truly incredible how murals can depict a much greater meaning than one may think at a first glance.
Throughout the entire tour, more murals and their meaning were pointed out and some talk about the Roman Catholic ritual was discussed as well. One of the rituals practiced by Roman Catholic’s is the seven sacraments which include: baptism, Eucharist, reconciliation, confirmation, marriage, holy orders, and anointing of the sick. Baptism is the first commitment to the Catholic church and can happen at any age. Following baptism is the Eucharist, or communion, and is a symbol of the body of Christ. Every time the cathedral holds mass, the Eucharist is offered ...
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...wledge of the Catholic Church and its rituals. In my life, I have always placed all of my interest towards life sciences such as chemistry and biology. That is the reason why I am studying chemistry on a pre-medicine route here at Saint Louis University. Although, after taking a tour of the Cathedral Basilica and almost completing Theological Foundations 1000, I have gained a better appreciation for the Catholic faith. It may seem at times as though I am uninterested in the topics discussed, but that is not always the case. Learning about faith to someone who did not grow up with it can be difficult and frustrating. It is all a learning process, and I am extremely grateful that I had the opportunities I did this semester. I hope in the future, I will be able to take more time to appreciate the Catholic faith, and to dig deeper into what it truly means to be a Catholic
Another example of Christian iconography is The Transfiguration. It is located in the Church of Saint Catherine’s monaster...
Saint Patrick's Cathedral, one of New York's greatest cathedrals, is located in Manhattan at 14 E. 51st St. The main reason the cathedral was built was to affirm the ascendance of religious freedom and tolerance. Thousands of poor immigrants and one hundred three prominent citizens helped pay contributions toward the church. The prominent citizens paid approximately one thousand dollars each.This cathedral supports the idea that not one single generation builds a cathedral, but rather the past, present, and future generations do.
When entering the Basilica one intakes the view of the catenary arches with light figures hanging down above them as well as beautiful Main Alter with the original paintings and statuary. The first thing at the door of the Basilica is a large black that holds the holy are. On the left there is a gothic style baptisrty The walls of the Basilica are white with several paintings hanging from them. On the right midway though the Basilica stand the Christ of King Shrine against the wall. On the left side midway though the Basilica the entryway to the chapel in which has the “Our Lady Bethlehem Shine”. The Our Lady Bethlehem Shrine is very important to the mission because, “thousands of pilgrims come every year and pray tour Lord through her intercessions.” At the foot of the alter the gave is Junipero Serra is placed, making this Basilica so significant. To the right of the alter there is a glass in casement with the relics of the coffin of blessed Fray Junipero Serra. “The pieces of the original casket which fallen to decay were set aside for safekeeping and now exhibited here in the reliquary.” The exit of the Basilica is on the left hand site at the very front near the alter. This exit then leads to the Mission’s Main
Ziggy Marley once said, “God is like the sun. When the sun shines, it shines for everyone. God is for everyone.” In the same way, Abbot Suger built the Basilica of St. Denis so that sunlight would flood throughout the building and symbolize the power of God inviting visitors into the cathedral. The Basilica of St. Denis was an artistic response to the rise of the Catholic Church’s power for it was modeled to be a physical representation of heaven, which the church heavily preached upon. (Thesis) As the basilica represented the shift from Romanesque architecture to Gothic, Abbot Suger introduced new techniques that transformed cathedrals to look more spacious and “heavenly”. (Map Statement #1-Art History) By allowing sunlight to come through the large windows, Abbot Suger instilled the Neo-Platonic idea that the sun was the physical representation of God. (Map Statement #2 –Philosophy) Also, at that time, the church was rising in power, so the new structural style of the basilica brought more converts and eventually more power to the church. (Map Statement #3 –Social Institutions) [Insert Literature Map Statement] The Basilica of St. Denis was built so that worshippers would be in awe of the “heaven-like” setting, which would cause more people to declare their faith to God and to the church.
A cathedral, besides being a grand and aesthetically pleasing architectural work, carries a very meaningful and symbolic connotation to it that has been building up for thousands of years. It is a place where one can find truth and strive for eternal happiness. The cathedral symbolizes equality and answers to all that humans seek out to find in the non-material world. Because of this benevolent and mystical connotation, drawing a cathedral had a profound effect on the narrator in terms of his wisdom and spirituality.
These twin bronze pulpits, covered with reliefs showing the passion of Christ, are works of tremendous spiritual depth and complexity. Even though some parts were left unfinished, they had to be completed by lesser artists. Bibliography:.. 1. What is the difference between a. 1998 Microsoft Encarta. Copyright 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation.
The Italian Architects of the seventeenth century faced a huge volume of orders to carry out. The most required orders were churches. (Bazin 15) When Urban VIII became pope he asked Bernini to design a baldachino, also known as a canopy, to define the altar area. Bernini built something that was half sculpture and half architecture that had four columns that were very detailed. The columns were designed with spiraling grooves and vines made of bronze. The spiraling and decorative effects were made to symbolize the union of the new and Old Testaments, the vine of the Eucharist climbing the columns of the temple of Solomon. The Eucharist was the Christian ceremony commemorating the Last Supper. The elements of the Ionic and Corinthian orders are at the top of the columns. Angels are along the entablatu...
Thesis: Both St. John the Baptist Cathedral and Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Chartres are constructed in French Gothic style which means that architecturally they have many similarities. However, the 700 year gap between their construction offers St. John the Baptist more flexibility in design and style. Still, their likeness and variations extend far beyond the realm of their design.
At first glance, one might assume Raymond Carver’s "Cathedral" illustrates the awakening of an insensitive and insulated husband to the world of a blind man. However, this literal awakening does not account for the fact that the husband awakens also to a world of religious insight, of which he has also been blind. The title and story structure are the first indicators of the importance of the religious thesis. It is also revealed when one examines the language and actions of the characters in the story. Finally, Carver’s previous and subsequent writings give an overall background for the argument that "Cathedral" has a significant religious import.
The increase of wealth during the twelfth century allowed artists to showcase their talents in churches. The apse titled Christ in Majesty with Symbols of the Four Evangelists in the church of Santa Maria de Mur displays the representation of divinity through its subject matter, technique, and style. In the apse, the main subjects revolve around scenes from the Old and New Testament with Christ as the focal point. For technique, the artist employed fresco painting instead of mosaics to show the images. The style of the apse avoids a sense of realism by hiding the bodies of the figures in the drapery and using the hierarchy of scale.
Q: Use St Peter’s basilica and Donato Bramante’s Tempietto in Rome, in opposition to John Balthasar Neumann’s Pilgrimage Church of Vierzehnheiligen in Bamburg, Germany, to argue that a rational engagement with architecture is a more effective means to comprehend and understand architectural form.
We do tend to expect certain things when we enter a place of worship, or peruse an active ministry, and truthfully, when taking in Christian oriented art. There are a couple reoccurring emblems, symbols, well-worn themes, and subjects which have been deemed safe, coming under overuse, carrying the weight of a saltine in the impact it makes on people, including us. While intentions are almost always well meaning, these conventions appear to the secular as a genre of its own in culture and art, quite often ringing with an unsavory note of incompetence. That’s already an unpleasant attribution to a faith that has changed the world, having built the infrastructure of empathy that has survived ages and permeates the social development of our western culture. It speaks to a deeper issue within the Church itself, which is a woeful lack of inspiration.
St. Peters Basilica. (2009). Chapel of the Pieta. Retrieved April 15, 2011, from St. Peters
When I was a child I used to be frightened of entering such a place for it seemed so imposing and somewhat dangerous, especially when music was being played. One day, in order to keep a promise I had made, I saw myself forced to enter. It took me quite a while to get the courage to pass through the old oak door, but the moment I stepped in, I realized just how enchanting and breathtaking this building could be. Its fantastic architecture and exquisite frescoes reflect perfectly the unity between this earth and the unseen kingdom of angels in such a manner that one cannot say where one ends and the other begins. The way in which the church was built is also the vivid testimony of a medieval period. Although it is a place that can sometimes be cold and ask for respect it is where prayers are answered and magic is done. An overwhelming feeling of inner harmony takes over you once you enter and God seems much closer. Darkness and light are welded perfectly together creating Redemption’s house. The tower allows you to see the entire town from the smallest river to the biggest building site, offering you its mightiness.
I attended Mass at my local parish, the Parish of St. Francis de Sales, on Sunday, October 9th, in order to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist. This also happens to be the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time because the priest of the parish, Father Phan, wore green in order to symbolize life, anticipation for the coming of Christ, and hope. The liturgical season of Ordinary Time is also significant because it focuses on the fruits of Jesus’s three-year public ministry, his educational parables, and his extraordinary miracles. The season of Ordinary Time also serves as a reminder that the Church’s mission, our mission, is to not only share the life and hope of Jesus