tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92136037164900103602023-11-15T23:02:56.154-08:00World ChurchesChurches and Cathedrals are not just places of prayer and worship; Churches are visible geographical writings of Christian History, off course written with Bricks and Mortar. Start listening to the Churches, what they have to say, you will understand the past, present and future of Christianity. World Churches is in effort to place Christian Architecture in front of you, so that you can understand Christianity better.Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-53032999466767991232013-01-10T01:55:00.000-08:002013-01-10T01:55:48.462-08:00Famous Churches - St. Christopher’s Cathedral, Canberra, Australia<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-999" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/st-christopher_s-cathedral-canberra-australlia.jpg" height="212" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/st-christopher_s-cathedral-canberra-australlia.jpg" title=". St. Christopher’s Cathedral, Canberra, Australia" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Christopher’s Cathedral, Canberra, Australia</td></tr>
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The Archdiocese of <em>Canberra</em> and <em>Goulburn </em>evolved from the <em>Diocese of Goulburn</em>, which was itself created on 17 November 1862. It covered the area between the <em>Lachlan and Murray rivers</em>. <em>Archbishop Norman Gilroy of Sydney</em> laid the foundation stone of <strong>St. Christopher’s Cathedral </strong>on 8 May 1938. The ceremony was attended by <em>Prime Minister Joseph Lyons</em> and <em>former Prime Minister James Scullin</em>. On 4 June, 1939, the parish church of <strong>St. Christopher</strong> was opened by <em>Archbishop Panico</em>, the Apostolic Delegate. The <em>architect </em>for the <em>Spanish Romanesque style</em> <em>Church</em> was <em>Clement Glancy</em> <em>of Sydney</em>. The <em>builder</em> was <em>Warren McDonald</em>, based in <em>Canberra</em>. <em>Archbishop Eris O'Brien,</em> took up residence in <em>Canberra</em> in 1955, so <strong>St. Christopher's</strong> became the permanent seat for the <em>Archbishop</em>, and was called a <em>Co-Cathedral</em>, along with <em>St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral, Goulburn</em>. In March 1972, the extension of <strong>St. Christopher's</strong> to double its seating capacity and to provide adequate liturgical space. <strong>St. Christopher’s Cathedral </strong>claims the distinction of having four <em>prime ministers</em> as parishioners. On 4 June, 1939, the parish church of <strong>St. Christopher</strong> was opened by <em>Archbishop Panico,</em> the Apostolic Delegate.Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-84123709771717320262013-01-10T01:51:00.000-08:002013-01-10T01:51:13.973-08:00Unique Churches - Chapel of St. Gildas, Brittany, France<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1004" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/chapel-of-st-gildas-brittany-france.jpg?w=300" height="267" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/chapel-of-st-gildas-brittany-france.jpg?w=300" title="Chapel of St. Gildas, Brittany, France" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chapel of St. Gildas, Brittany, France</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys: Statue of Saint-Gildas...." class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" data-mce-src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Statue_St-Gildas_0708_NB1.jpg/300px-Statue_St-Gildas_0708_NB1.jpg" height="201" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Statue_St-Gildas_0708_NB1.jpg/300px-Statue_St-Gildas_0708_NB1.jpg" title="Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys: Statue of Saint-Gildas...." width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statue of Saint-Gildas</td></tr>
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The Chapel marks the site where <strong><em>St. Gildas, an Irish monk</em></strong>, preached Christianity to a local, mainly pagan population during the 6th century. <strong>St. Gildas</strong> and his fellow monk <em>Bieuzy</em>,
are said to have lived in a cave at the base of the rock where the
chapel now stands. It is believed they had miraculous healing powers.<strong> Chapel of St. Gildas </strong>is locatedupon the bank of the <em>Canal du Blavet</em> in <em>Brittany, France</em>. This was once a holy place of the <em>Druids</em> and has been built like a stone barn over the base of a bare rocky cliff. <strong>St.</strong> <strong>Gildas</strong> appears to have travelled widely throughout the <em>Celtic world of Corwall, Wales, Ireland and Scotland</em>. He arrived in <em>Brittany</em> in about AD 540 and is said to have preached Christianity to the people from a rough pulpit, now contained within the chapel. According to Legend, after healing the daughter of a local Count who had been seriously injured by her husband, <strong>St. Gildas</strong> was under death threat and it was no longer safe for him to remain in the area. <em>Bieuzy</em>, however, continued to preach and was famous for his ability to cure rabies. <em>Bieuzy</em>
met an unpleasant demise when he refused to interrupt one of his
sermons to cure the rabid dog of a local pagan chief who later returned
and attacked <strong>Bieuzy</strong> with an axe. Statue of <em>Bieuzy</em> with an axe lodged in his head can be seen inside the chapel today.Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-69037611288105219462013-01-10T01:45:00.000-08:002013-01-10T01:45:40.587-08:00Famous Churches - The Canterbury Cathedral, England<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/800px-canterbury-cathedral-church-of-england-1890-1900.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/800px-canterbury-cathedral-church-of-england-1890-1900.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1008" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/800px-canterbury-cathedral-church-of-england-1890-1900.jpg?w=300" height="223" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/800px-canterbury-cathedral-church-of-england-1890-1900.jpg?w=300" title="Canterbury Cathedral Church of England " width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canterbury Cathedral Church of England</td></tr>
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<strong>The Canterbury Cathedral</strong> is the mother Church of the <em>Anglican Communion</em> and seat of the <em>Archbishop of Canterbury</em>. Its formal title is the <strong>Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ at Canterbury</strong>. The Cathedral is both a holy place and part of a <em>World Heritage Site. St. Augustine</em>, the <em>first Archbishop of Canterbury</em>, arrived on the <em>coast of Kent</em> as a missionary to <em>England</em> in 597 AD. <em>Augustine</em> was given a church at <em>Canterbury</em> by the local King Ethelbert, who’s <em>Queen Bertha</em>, a <em>French Princess</em>, was already a Christian. <em>Augustine's</em> original building lies beneath the floor of the nave– it was extensively rebuilt and enlarged by the <em>Saxons</em>, and following a major fire, the Cathedral was rebuilt completely by the <em>Normans</em> in 1070. By 1077, <em>Archbishop Lanfranc</em> had rebuilt it as a <em>Norman church,</em> described as "nearly perfect". The work of the Cathedral as a monastery came to an end in 1540, when <em>the monastery</em> was closed on the orders of <em>King Henry VIII</em>. During the <em>Civil War </em>of the 1640s, <strong>The Canterbury Cathedral</strong> suffered damage at the hands of the <em>Puritans</em>.<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93416311@N00/2199595675" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93416311@N00/2199595675" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Thomas Becket" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured alignleft" data-mce-src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2156/2199595675_d3361e82af_m.jpg" height="161" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2156/2199595675_d3361e82af_m.jpg" title="Thomas Becket" width="240" /></a><br />
After
the Restoration in 1660, several years were spent in repairing the
building. The North West tower was found to be dangerous, it was
demolished in the early 1830s and replaced by a copy of the South West
tower, thus giving a symmetrical appearance to the west end of the
Cathedral. During the <em>Second World War</em>,
the Precincts were heavily damaged by enemy action and the Cathedral’s
Library was destroyed. In 1954, the Library rebuilt and repairing War
damage was completed.<br />
A critical moment in the history of <strong>The Canterbury Cathedral</strong> was the murder of <em>Thomas Becket</em> in the north-west transept (also known as the Martyrdom) on Tuesday 29 December 1170 by knights of <em>King Henry II</em>. The king had frequent conflicts with the strong-willed <em>Becket</em>
and is said to have exclaimed in frustration, "Who will rid me of this
turbulent priest?" The knights took it literally and murdered Becket in
his own <em>cathedral</em>. Becket was the second, out of the four <strong><em>Archbishops of Canterbury, </em></strong>who were murdered.<br />
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Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-45065196002497998472013-01-10T01:34:00.000-08:002013-01-10T01:34:47.175-08:00Beautiful Churches - St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow, Russia<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-basils-cathedral-red-square-moscow-russia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" class="size-full wp-image-1012" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-basils-cathedral-red-square-moscow-russia.jpg" height="259" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-basils-cathedral-red-square-moscow-russia.jpg" title="St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow, Russia" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow, Russia</td></tr>
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<strong>St. Basil's Cathedral </strong>is also known as the <em>Cathedral of the Intercession</em>.<strong> Saint Basil's Cathedral</strong> is a Russian Orthodox Church erected on the Red Square in Moscow in 1555–61. The <strong>Saint Basil's Cathedral</strong> was built on the order of <em>Ivan the Terrible</em> to commemorate the capture of <em>Kazan </em>and <em>Astrakhan. </em>The original building, known as <em>"Trinity Church"</em> and later <em>"Trinity Cathedral"</em>, contained eight side churches arranged around the ninth. The tenth Church was erected in 1588 over the grave of revered local <em>Saint Vasily (Basil)</em>. <em>The building's design</em> has no analogues in <em>Russian architecture</em> and it is shaped as a flame of a bonfire rising into the sky. The church was taken away from the <em>Russian Orthodox community</em> as part of the <em>Soviet Unions anti-theist</em> campaigns and has operated as a division of the <em>State Historical Museum</em> since 1928.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vasily_blazh.jpg" href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vasily_blazh.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Icon of St. Basil the Blessed, St. Basil's Cat..." class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured " data-mce-src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Vasily_blazh.jpg/300px-Vasily_blazh.jpg" height="508" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Vasily_blazh.jpg/300px-Vasily_blazh.jpg" title="Icon of St. Basil the Blessed, St. Basil's Cat..." width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icon of St. Basil the Blessed</td></tr>
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It was completely and forcefully secularized in 1929 and, as of 2012, remains a federal property of the <em>Russian Federation</em>. The church has been part of the <em>Moscow Kremlin</em> and <em>Red Square UNESCO World Heritage Site</em> since 1990.<br />
According to the legend, missing ninth Church (precisely, sanctuary) was "<em>miraculously found</em>" during a ceremony attended by <em>Tsar</em>. Another popular legend is that <em>Ivan the Terrible</em> had the <em>architect of St. Basil's</em> eyes pulled out after the cathedral was completed so that <em>the architect</em>
could not be able to build an equally beautiful structure anywhere
else. Yet another legend tells that Napoleon after realizing that he
could not count <strong>St. Basil's Cathedral</strong> among his war spoils, wanted it destroyed. The fuses lit by his men were supposedly snuffed by a sudden downpour.Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-72860412237318545982013-01-10T01:27:00.000-08:002013-01-10T01:27:32.532-08:00Famous Churches - St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-1016 " data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-peters-basilica.jpg?w=300" height="183" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-peters-basilica.jpg?w=300" title="St. Peters Basilica, Vatican City, Rome" width="243" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Peters Basilica, Vatican City, Rome</td></tr>
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<dl class="wp-caption alignright" data-mce-style="width: 250px;" id="attachment_2187" style="width: 250px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-2187 " data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-peter_s-basilica-vatican-city-rome.jpg?w=300" height="175" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-peter_s-basilica-vatican-city-rome.jpg?w=300" title="St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome</td></tr>
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<strong>St. Peter's Basilica</strong> (Italian: <em>San Pietro in Vaticano</em>) is a major basilica in Vatican City. <strong>St. Peter's Basilica </strong>stands on the traditional site where <em>Peter - the apostle, </em>who is considered the first pope, was crucified and buried in 64 A.D. <strong><em>St. Peter's Tomb</em></strong> is under the main altar and many other popes are also buried in the <strong>St. Peter's Basilica</strong>. In <strong>324</strong>, <em>Emperor Constantine </em>began
construction on a great basilica over the tomb. In the mid-15th century
it was decided that the old basilica should be rebuilt, this was
abandoned after a short while. The history of the design and
construction of this new building spans several centuries and involved
several of the <em>most brilliant architects</em>, including <em>Bramante, Michelangelo</em> and <em>Bernini</em>, of the early modern period. Construction on the current building began under <em>Pope Julius II</em> in <strong>1506</strong> and was completed in 1615 under <em>Pope Paul V</em>. The building itself is truly impressive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="St. Peter's Basilica" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" data-mce-src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3525/5839579447_b4257735ab_m.jpg" height="160" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3525/5839579447_b4257735ab_m.jpg" title="St. Peter's Basilica" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Peter's Basilica (Photo credit: johnmaschak)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-2184 " data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-peter_s-basilica-vatican-city-rome-interior.jpg" height="179" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-peter_s-basilica-vatican-city-rome-interior.jpg" title="St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome (Interior)" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome (Interior)</td></tr>
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The <em>largest church in the world</em>, it has a 218 meter long nave. The basilica's dome is the <em>world's largest</em>
measuring 42m in diameter and reaching 138 meter high (more than
450ft). The interior, which includes 45 altars, is decorated by many
famous artists. Some of the most important works in the church are the <em>Pietà by Michelangelo</em>, the <em>papal altar by Bernini</em>, the <em>Throne of St. Peter</em> - also by <em>Bernini</em> and the Monument to the Stuarts by <em>Canova</em>.<br />
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Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-26658513854183761672013-01-10T01:19:00.000-08:002013-01-10T01:19:22.172-08:00Famous Churches - St. Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco),Venice, Italy<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1020" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-marks-basilica-basilica-di-san-marcovenace.jpg?w=300" height="225" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-marks-basilica-basilica-di-san-marcovenace.jpg?w=300" title="St Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco),Venice, Italy" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco),Venice, Italy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Blending the <em>architectural styles</em> of East and West, <em>Venice's</em> magnificent basilica was consecrated in 832 AD as an <em>ecclesiastical building</em> to house the remains of <strong><em>St. Mark</em></strong>. <strong>St Mark's Basilica</strong> (<strong>Basilica di San Marco</strong>) is one of the finest examples of <em>Byzantine architecture</em> in the world. Located just off the <em>Grand Canal</em>, the gleaming basilica overlooks the <em>Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square)</em> and adjoins the <em>Doge's Palace</em>. In 828, Venetian merchants stole the <strong>relics of Saint Mark the Evangelist</strong> from their original resting place in <em>Alexandria, Egypt</em>. It is said the <em>Venetians</em> hid the <em>relics</em> in a barrel under layers of pork to get them past Muslim guards. <em>The relics</em> were initially housed in a temporary chapel within the <em>Doge's Palace</em>, but a more substantial church was built to shelter the valuable relics in 829-32. This burned in a rebellion against <em>Doge Pietro Candiano IV </em>in 976, but was restored by <em>Doge Domenico Contarini </em>(d. 1070). The present <strong>St Mark's Basilica</strong>, which incorporates the earlier buildings, was completed around 1071. The Basilica di San Marco was the <em>chapel of the Doges</em>, but in 1807, it became the <strong>Cathedral of Venice. </strong><em>Exterior</em> is decorated with <em>Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic art</em>, the west <em>facade</em>
is composed of two orders of five recessed arches, supported by
clusters of columns whose capitals were carved in the 12th and 13th
centuries. The delicate pinnacles and other decorations at the top of
the <em>facade </em>are <em>Gothic </em>additions of the 14th and 15th centuries.Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-35061924317591390032013-01-10T01:14:00.000-08:002013-01-10T01:14:13.097-08:00Sacred Destination -The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old City of Jerusalem<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1025" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-church-of-the-holy-sepulchre-old-city-of-jerusalem.jpg?w=300" height="225" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-church-of-the-holy-sepulchre-old-city-of-jerusalem.jpg?w=300" title="The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old City of Jerusalem" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old City of Jerusalem</td></tr>
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<strong>The <strong>Church of the Holy Sepulchre</strong></strong>, known as the <strong>Church of the Resurrection</strong> (<em>Anastasis</em>) to <em>Eastern Orthodox Christians</em>, is a church in the <em>Old City of Jerusalem</em> that is <strong><em>the</em></strong><em> <strong>holiest Christian site</strong> <strong>in the world.</strong></em> <em>The Roman Emperor Hadrian</em> erected a large platform of earth over the whole area for the construction of a <em>temple to Venus</em>. A statue of Jupiter was on the site for 180 years (140-320 A.D.), when <em>Constantine </em>converted the empire to <em>Christianity</em>, he had the pagan temples dismantled, the earth removed and a <em>Church</em> built over the spot. Originally built by the mother of <em>Emperor Constantine</em> in 330 A.D., the Church of the <strong><em>Holy Sepulcher </em></strong>is believed to be constructed on the hill of <strong><em>crucifixion</em></strong> and the Church also includes the <strong><em>Empty Tomb</em></strong> where the <strong><em>Jesus Christ</em></strong> was buried (<strong><em>The Christ</em></strong> rose from the dead after three days). The <em>original Byzantine church </em>was destroyed by the <em>Persians</em> in 614 A.D. Rebuilt shortly thereafter, the <em>Egyptian Caliph Al-Hakim</em> destroyed the Church in 1009 and had the <strong><em>Empty Tomb</em></strong>demolished to bedrock.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Ceiling of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" data-mce-src="http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8323/8088145632_63d57fa6c0_m.jpg" height="160" src="http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8323/8088145632_63d57fa6c0_m.jpg" title="Ceiling of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceiling of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Photo credit: slack12)</td></tr>
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<em>The Crusaders </em>rebuilt
the church and much of what is standing today is from that time
period. Inside the church is a rocky outcropping which is the
traditional place where the cross was placed. <em>Archaeological excavations</em>
have demonstrated that this site was outside the city but close to one
of its gates and thus would have been a good location for a
crucifixion. Other <em>first-century tombs </em>are still preserved inside the Church. "<strong><em>Tomb of Joseph of Arimathea</em></strong>" and other burial shafts (kokhim) are clearly from the time of <strong><em>Christ's death </em></strong>and attest to some kind of burial ground in the area. The <em>eyewitness historian Eusebius</em> claimed that in the course of the excavations, the original memorial was discovered. However, he also claimed that all <em>three crosses (those of <strong>Jesus</strong> and the two thieves)</em>
were found at the site. In recent times, a fire (1808) and an
earthquake (1927) did extensive damage. Not until 1959 did the three
major communities (<em>Latin’s, Greeks, and Armenians</em>) agree on a
major renovation plan. The guiding principle was that only elements
incapable of fulfilling their structural function would be replaced.<br />
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Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-12652718789965244582013-01-10T01:07:00.000-08:002013-01-10T01:07:57.466-08:00Famous Churches - Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/notre-dame-cathedral-paris-france.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/notre-dame-cathedral-paris-france.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1029 " data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/notre-dame-cathedral-paris-france.jpg?w=225" height="300" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/notre-dame-cathedral-paris-france.jpg?w=225" title="Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France</td></tr>
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<strong>Paris, </strong>formerly known as<strong> Lutetium</strong>, was evangelized in the 3<sup>rd</sup> century.<strong> Notre Dame Cathedral</strong> (<em>Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris</em>, "Our Lady of Paris") is a beautiful cathedral on the the Île de la Cité in Paris. <strong>The Notre Dame <strong>Cathedral </strong></strong>is the most popular monument in Paris and in all of France, beating even the Eiffel Tower with 13 million visitors each year. <strong>The Notre Dame de Paris<em> </em></strong>stands on the site of Paris' first Christian Church, <em>Saint Etienne basilica</em>, which was built on the site of a Roman <strong>T<strong>emple of Jupiter</strong></strong>. <strong>Notre Dame’s </strong><strong>first stone</strong> was laid in 1163 in the presence of Pope Alexander III. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/notre-dame-cathedral-paris-france-window.jpg?w=198" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" class="size-medium wp-image-2215 " data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/notre-dame-cathedral-paris-france-window.jpg?w=198" height="300" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/notre-dame-cathedral-paris-france-window.jpg?w=198" title="Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France (Window)" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France (Window)</td></tr>
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The new building was designed according to the new art movement known as the <em>gothic style (or the ogival style)</em>. <strong>Notre Dame Cathedral</strong>
was not completed until roughly 180 years later in about 1345. The
appearance of the interior was radically transformed in the mid-13th
century when the small clerestory windows typical of the Early <em>Gothic style</em> were enlarged downward and filled with High Gothic tracery.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2214" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/notre-dame-cathedral-paris-france-interior.jpg" height="320" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/notre-dame-cathedral-paris-france-interior.jpg" title="Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France (Interior)" width="226" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France (Interior)</td></tr>
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<a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/notre-dame-cathedral-paris-france-interior.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/notre-dame-cathedral-paris-france-interior.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>During the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV
at the end of the 17th century the cathedral underwent major
alterations, during which many tombs and stained glass windows were
destroyed. Notre-Dame was plundered during the <em>French Revolution</em>,
as were a number of other cathedrals throughout France. Citizens
mistook statues of saints above the portals on the west front for
representations of their kings, and, in the midst of their revolutionary
fervor, took them down (Some of these statues were found in the 1970s,
almost two hundred years later, in the Latin Quarter).Many of the
cathedral's other treasures were either destroyed or plundered, stolen
or destroyed. Restoration of the Cathedral (begun in 1844 and lasting 23
years<em>), Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc</em> reinstated the <em>triforium</em> and small clerestory windows in the eastern bay of the nave. The sculpture on the west facade, badly damaged during the <em>French Revolution</em>,
was also restored during this period. During the Commune of 1871, the
Cathedral was nearly burned by the Communards. Starting in 1991, a 10
year program of general maintenance and restoration was initiated<br />
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Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-67678837675898936192013-01-09T23:55:00.000-08:002013-01-09T23:55:43.578-08:00Famous Churches - Chartres Cathedral,France<strong>Chartres Cathedral </strong>(<em>Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres</em>) is located in the medieval town of <em>Chartres</em>, about 50 miles from Paris. <strong>Chartres Cathedral</strong> is one of the greatest achievements in <em>the history of architecture </em>and it is almost perfectly preserved in its original design and details.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1035" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/chartres-cathedral-chartres-france.jpg?w=300" height="286" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/chartres-cathedral-chartres-france.jpg?w=300" title="Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France</td></tr>
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In addition to its architectural splendor, <strong>Chartres Cathedral</strong> has been a major pilgrimage destination since the early <em>middle ages</em>. According to popular belief, Chartres Cathedral has housed the <em>tunic of the Blessed Virgin Mary</em>, the <em><strong>Sancta Camisia</strong></em>, since 876. The relic was said to have been given to the cathedral by Charlemagne, who received it as a gift during a trip to Jerusalem. Chartres has been a very important <strong><em>Marian pilgrimage center</em></strong> and the faithful still come from the world over to honor the relic. In 1020, a glorious new <strong><em>Romanesque basilica</em></strong> with a massive crypt was built under the direction of <em>Bishop Fulbert</em> and later <em>Geoffroy de Lèves</em>. <strong><em>The cathedral</em></strong>
survived a fire in 1134 that destroyed much of the town. On the night
of June 10, 1194, lightning ignited a great fire that destroyed all but
the west towers, the façade and the crypt. <em><strong>Sancta Camisia </strong></em> was found unharmed in the treasury after three days, it was <em>attributed as a miracle</em>. After reconstruction, On October 24, 1260, <strong>Chartres Cathedral </strong>was finally dedicated in the presence of King Louis IX and his family. The cathedral was added to <em>UNESCO's</em> list of <em>World Heritage Sites </em>in 1979.Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-12212842689194155092013-01-09T23:52:00.000-08:002013-01-09T23:52:08.812-08:00Famous Churches - Basilica Sacré-Coeur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart), Paris, France<em>Montmartre</em>, an area on a hill in the 18th arrondissement, north of <em>downtown Paris</em>, is known for its many artists who have been ubiquitous since 1880. The name <em>Montmartre </em>is said to be derived from either <em>Mount of Martyrs</em> or from <em>Mount of Mars</em>.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/sacrc3a9-coeur-basilica-basilica-of-the-sacred-heart-paris-france.jpg?w=200" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" class="size-medium wp-image-1039" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/sacrc3a9-coeur-basilica-basilica-of-the-sacred-heart-paris-france.jpg?w=200" height="300" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/sacrc3a9-coeur-basilica-basilica-of-the-sacred-heart-paris-france.jpg?w=200" title="Sacré-Coeur Basilica (Basilica of the Sacred Heart), Paris, France" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sacré-Coeur Basilica (Basilica of the Sacred Heart), Paris, France</td></tr>
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<strong>Sacré-Coeur Basilica (Basilica of the Sacred Heart)</strong> is positioned on a hilltop at the north end of the city; it can be seen from most places in <em>Paris</em>. The site of the 19th-century basilica is traditionally associated with the beheading of the city's patron, <strong>Saint Denis</strong>, in the <em>3rd century</em>. According to legend, after he was martyred, <em>Bishop Denis</em> picked up his severed head and carried it several miles to the north, where the suburb of <em>Saint-Denis</em> stands today.<strong> Basilica Sacré-Coeur</strong> on <em>Montmartre</em> was begun in the troubled period of the 1870s to celebrate the triumph of <em>"Christian Values"</em> over the <em>“Socialist Aspirations”</em> of the <em>Paris and Lyon communes</em>. Entirely paid for by private donations, <strong>The Sacre Coeur</strong> was built between 1875 and 1919, amidst intense controversy with <em>secularists and radicals</em>. <em>Architect Paul Abadie</em> designed the <strong>Sacre Coeur</strong> .in a <em>Romano Byzantine style, </em>this <em>architectural style</em> stands in sharp contrast with other contemporary buildings in France, which were mostly built in a <em>Romanesque style</em>. Five architects continued the project after his death in 1885. <strong>Sacré-Coeur Basilica (Basilica of the Sacred Heart) </strong>waselevated to the status of a <em>basilica</em> in 1919, after the end of the <em>First World War</em>.Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-54780951988165388962013-01-09T23:47:00.000-08:002013-01-09T23:47:21.968-08:00Unique Churches - The Las Lajas Cathedral, Southern Colombia<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Virgin of Rosary in las Lajas Cathedral" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" data-mce-src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/P1050205.JPG/300px-P1050205.JPG" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/P1050205.JPG/300px-P1050205.JPG" title="Virgin of Rosary in las Lajas Cathedral" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virgin of Rosary in las Lajas Cathedral (Photo credit: Wikipedia)</td></tr>
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<em><strong><span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;">The Legend</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong>The Las Lajas Cathedral</strong></em><em> is located in </em><em>Southern Colombia</em><em> and built in 1916 inside the canyon of the </em><em>Guaitara River</em><em> . According to the </em><em>legend</em><em>, this was the place where an </em><em>Indian</em><em> woman named </em><em>Maria Mueses </em><em>was carrying her deaf-mute daughter </em><em>Rosa </em><em>on her back near </em><em>Las Lajas</em><em> (”The Rocks”). Weary of the climb, the </em><em>MarÃa</em><em> sat down on a rock when </em><em>Rosa</em><em> spoke (for the first time) about an </em><em>apparition</em><em> in a cave. </em>A few days later, the child Rosa disappeared from her home. After looking everywhere, the anguished <em>Maria </em>guessed that her daughter must have gone to the cave. The child had often said that <em>the Lady</em> was calling her<em>. Maria</em> ran to <em>Las Lajas</em>
and found her daughter in front of a noble Lady and playing
affectionately with a Child who had come down from His mother’s arms to
let the girl enjoy His divine tenderness.Fearful of ridicule, <em>Maria </em>kept
quiet about the episode. But she and Rosa frequently went to the cave
to place wild flowers and candles in the cracks of the rocks.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1051" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-las-lajas-cathedral-southern-colombia.jpeg?w=225" height="300" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-las-lajas-cathedral-southern-colombia.jpeg?w=225" title="The Las Lajas Cathedral, Southern Colombia" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Las Lajas Cathedral, Southern Colombia</td></tr>
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Months went by, with <em>Maria</em> and <em>Rosa</em> keeping their secret. Finally, one day the girl fell gravely ill and died. A distraught <em>Maria</em> decided to take her daughter’s body to <em>Las Lajas</em> to ask the Lady to restore <em>Rosa</em> to life. Moved by the sadness of <em>Maria’s</em> unrelenting supplications, the <em>Blessed Virgin</em> obtained <em>Rosa’s resurrection</em> from her <em>Divine Son</em>. Overflowing with joy, <em>Maria</em> returned home. It was not long before a crowd had gathered to hear what had happened. Early the next morning everyone went to <em>Las Lajas</em>, each one wanting to check the details for themselves. S<em>tudies
of the painting showed no proof of paint or pigments on the rock –
instead, when a core sample was taken, it was found that the colors were
impregnated in the rock itself to a depth of several feet. The legend
spurred the building of this </em><em>Amazing Church</em><em>.</em><br />
<em><strong><span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;">The Cathedral</span></strong></em><br />
The Church is of <em>Gothic Revival Architecture</em>
and was built from January 1, 1916 to August 20, 1949, with donations
from local churchgoers, replacing an old nineteenth-century chapel. The
name <em>Laja</em> comes from the name of a type of <em>flat sedimentary rock</em> similar to floor tiles found in the <em>Andes Mountains</em>. There was a claim that an apparition of the <em>Virgin Mary</em> was seen. The image on the stone is still visible today.Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-69146437361884375422013-01-09T23:30:00.001-08:002013-01-09T23:30:21.951-08:00Famous Churches - The Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain<strong>The Sagrada Familia</strong>, Antoni Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, is one of Barcelona's most popular tourist attractions. The <em>architect Francisco de Paula del Villar</em> designed a <em>Neo Gothic Church </em>and led the construction which started in 1882.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-sagrada-familia-barcelona-spain.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-sagrada-familia-barcelona-spain.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1043" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-sagrada-familia-barcelona-spain.jpg?w=219" height="300" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-sagrada-familia-barcelona-spain.jpg?w=219" title="The Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain" width="219" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain</td></tr>
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One year later, the modernist <em>architect Antoni Gaudí</em> took over as <em>lead architect</em> at the age of 31. From that moment on<em>, Gaudí</em>
devoted most of his life to the construction of the church. When he
died in 1926 only one facade (the nativity facade), one tower, the apse
and the crypt were finished. The artist was run over by a tram on the
Gran Via. He died in hospital two days later and was mourned by all of Catalonia. He is buried in the crypt of the <strong>Sagrada Familia</strong>. The work was interrupted by the outbreak of the <strong>Spanish Civil War</strong> in 1935. The building remained intact during the war, but in 1936 many of its models and plans were destroyed by <em>Catalan anarchists.</em> The last version of his design called for a church 95m/312ft long and 60m/197ft wide. <strong>The Sagrada Familia</strong> will have a total of 18 towers. Four Towers on each of the three facades represent the <em>12 apostles</em>.
The towers reach a height of 90 to 120m (394ft). Another four towers
represent the 4 evangelists. They will surround the largest, 170m/558ft
tall tower, dedicated to <strong>Jesus Christ</strong>. The last tower, dedicated to <strong>Virgin Mary</strong>, will be built over the apse. Estimated completion dates of <strong>The Sagrada Familia</strong> range from 2017 to <strong><em>2026</em></strong>, the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death.Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-38008735308339321082013-01-09T03:52:00.000-08:002013-01-09T03:52:39.876-08:00Famous Churches - The Basilica of Our Lady of El Pilar in Zaragoza, Spain<strong><span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></strong>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/basilica-del-pilar-zaragoza-spain2a.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/basilica-del-pilar-zaragoza-spain2a.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1054" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/basilica-del-pilar-zaragoza-spain2a.jpg?w=252" height="300" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/basilica-del-pilar-zaragoza-spain2a.jpg?w=252" title="The Basilica of Our Lady of El Pilar in Zaragoza, Spain" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Basilica of Our Lady of El Pilar in Zaragoza, Spain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-basilica-of-our-lady-of-el-pilar-in-zaragoza-spain.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-basilica-of-our-lady-of-el-pilar-in-zaragoza-spain.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-2198 " data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-basilica-of-our-lady-of-el-pilar-in-zaragoza-spain.jpg?w=224" height="300" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-basilica-of-our-lady-of-el-pilar-in-zaragoza-spain.jpg?w=224" title="The Basilica of Our Lady of El Pilar in Zaragoza, Spain" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Basilica of Our Lady of El Pilar in Zaragoza, Spain</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
<br /><br />
<strong><strong><span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;">The Legend</span></strong></strong><br />
<strong>Basilica of Our Lady of El Pilar</strong> is one of the biggest and most important churches in Spain. <strong><em>St. James the Greater</em></strong> is born the son of <strong><em>Zebedee </em></strong><em>and <strong>Salome</strong> </em>and brother of <strong><em>John the Evangelist</em></strong>. According to legend, in the early days of the Church, on January 2, 40 AD, the <strong><em>Apostle James the Greater</em></strong> was proclaiming the Gospel in <em>Caesaraugusta (present day Zaragoza)</em> by the <em>River Ebro</em>, when he saw <em>Mary </em>miraculously appearing in the flesh on a pillar calling him to return to <em>Jerusalem</em>.
She gave him a small wooden statue of herself and a column of jasper
and told him to build a church in her honor. The pillar is believed to
be the same one venerated in <em>Zaragoza, Spain</em> today. <em>Miraculous healings</em> have been reported at the location. <em>James</em> then builds a chapel, the first built in honor of Mary. It was to become the <em>first church in the world</em> that was dedicated to the <strong><em>Blessed Virgin</em></strong> <strong><em>Mary</em></strong>. The <em>jasper column</em> and the <em>wooden statue</em> can still be seen on special occasions at the church. Before long, the chapel became a center for the conversion of <em>pagans</em>. Because of the apparition and the rapid rise of <em>Christianity</em>, <em>Zaragoza</em>quickly
became a major political and commercial center. The simple chapel was
often updated, growing in size into the existing Cathedral that was
completed about the 17th century. Several chapels and churches were
built at the site and destroyed with time.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-basilica-of-our-lady-of-el-pilar-in-zaragoza-spain-interior.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-basilica-of-our-lady-of-el-pilar-in-zaragoza-spain-interior.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-2199" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-basilica-of-our-lady-of-el-pilar-in-zaragoza-spain-interior.jpg?w=224" height="300" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-basilica-of-our-lady-of-el-pilar-in-zaragoza-spain-interior.jpg?w=224" title="The Basilica of Our Lady of El Pilar in Zaragoza, Spain (Interior)" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Basilica of Our Lady of El Pilar in Zaragoza, Spain (Interior)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong><span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;">The Cathedral</span></strong><br />
The current “<strong>The Basilica of Our Lady of El Pilar”</strong> was built between 1681 and 1686 by the <em>King Carlos II</em>. In 1725 the church commissioned the <em>architect Ventura Rodriguez</em> to transform the building to the <em>Baroque style</em>.
The church now measures 130 by 67 meters. There are large corner towers
and a central dome surrounded by ten brightly tiled cupolas. There are
two domes that were painted with frescoes by Goya. One of them has the <em>Queen of the Martyrs</em> and the second one has the Adoration of the Name of <strong>God</strong>. The final reconstruction was finished in 1872.<br />
<strong><br /> </strong>Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-31540750552205526482013-01-09T03:32:00.000-08:002013-01-09T03:32:58.046-08:00Famous Churches - Milan's Cathedral Duomo in Italy<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/milans-cathedral-duomo-in-italy.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/milans-cathedral-duomo-in-italy.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1059" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/milans-cathedral-duomo-in-italy.jpg?w=300" height="235" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/milans-cathedral-duomo-in-italy.jpg?w=300" title="Milan's Cathedral Duomo in Italy" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milan's Cathedral Duomo in Italy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong>Milan's Cathedral Duomo</strong> has been a central part of the city's life since 1386, when it was founded by Gian Galeazzo Visconti.<strong> Milan's Cathedral Duomo</strong> is built on the place of the preceding church of <em>Santa Maria Maggiore</em>, the work on <strong>The Cathedral Duomo </strong>started 1386. It is the most important work of <em>gothic architecture </em>in <em>Italy</em>. During the construction of five centuries, the style has been influenced by many <em>architects</em>. The façade was started in 1567 and was built in a <em>classic-baroque style</em> with a certain variety of <em>classical and neo gothic elements</em>. In 1805, the front works were finished, while the construction of the statues continued through the 19th century. <strong>Milan's Cathedral Duomo</strong>was completed only in 1960, when the last bronze door was put into place.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/milans-cathedral-duomo-in-italy1.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/milans-cathedral-duomo-in-italy1.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-2202" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/milans-cathedral-duomo-in-italy1.jpg?w=300" height="215" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/milans-cathedral-duomo-in-italy1.jpg?w=300" title="Milan's Cathedral Duomo in Italy" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior - Milan's Cathedral Duomo, Italy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In <em>white Candoglia Marble</em>
the majestic construction extends about 157 m length, 93 m wide, and
its tallest spire reaches a height of 108 meters. With its 5 naves it is
overwhelmingly great and one of the largest churches in <em>Europe</em>. <strong>The Terraces on the Roof of the Cathedral </strong>are constructed of <em>Candoglia marble</em> from the <em>Maggiore Lake</em>.
It presented a unique innovation in the construction of cathedrals
roofs. The light falls through splendid stained glass inside.
Fascinating is the decoration of more then 3,400 statues. <em>The Golden "Madonna"</em>, the four-meter, gold-leaf covered <em>statue of Mary</em> stands at the top of the tallest spire.<strong> Milan's Cathedral Duomo</strong> is the <em>fourth largest in Europe</em> and the <em>second largest Catholic Cathedral</em> in the world.Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-60448601222154458532013-01-09T03:25:00.000-08:002013-01-09T03:27:07.161-08:00Famous Churches - St. Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore), Esquiline Hill, Rome<b><span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;">The legend</span></b><br />
Situated on the summit of the <i>Esquiline Hill</i>, <b>St. Mary Major</b> is the only one of the four <i>patriarchal basilicas</i> to have retained its <i>paleo-Christian structures</i>.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-mary-major-santa-maria-maggiore-esquiline-hill-rome.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-mary-major-santa-maria-maggiore-esquiline-hill-rome.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1063" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-mary-major-santa-maria-maggiore-esquiline-hill-rome.jpg?w=300" height="199" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-mary-major-santa-maria-maggiore-esquiline-hill-rome.jpg?w=300" title="St. Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore), Esquiline Hill, Rome" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore), Esquiline Hill, Rome</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A wealthy but childless Roman couple, <i>John and his wife</i> decided to leave their fortune to the Church. They often prayed to the <i>Virgin</i> asking for guidance on how their wealth could be put to use. <i>The Virgin</i> appeared to them on the night of August 4<sup>th</sup>, 358 A.D. and told them that she wished a <i>basilica</i> to be constructed on the <i>Esquiline Hill</i>.
She would miraculously leave snow in the middle of the hot month of
August on the precise area in which she wanted the church. The next
morning <i>John and his wife</i> and <i>Pope Liberius</i> went to the top of the <i>Equiline Hill</i> which had been covered with snow. <i>Pope Liberius</i> immediately called for the construction of the <i>Basilica</i>. <b>St. Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore)</b> was completed in 360 A.D. Until 1969 the feast was known as <i>Dedicatio Sanctæ Mariæ ad Nives</i> <i>(Dedication of the Church of Our Lady of the Snows)</i>, a name that had become popular for the <i>Basilica</i> in the <i>fourteenth century</i> in connection with a legend about its origin. Pope Sixtus III (432-40) decided to build a new and more magnificent structure near (if not on) the site of <i>Liberius'</i> former <i>Marian Church</i>. In 1741, a congregation set up by Pope Benedict XIV proposed that the reading of the legend be removed from the Roman Breviary and that the original name, "Dedicatio Sanctæ Mariæ", be restored. This recommendation was implemented only in 1969.<br />
<b><span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;">The Structure</span></b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHCWMnYqvnce3-Gi22l8lpyvx13DF3WBa-Gi56MlV0zqsEXeBt0RX3I-s6h40-Ilhq4c8pdegVEtHE538EC3TEkL-c6TCdY3ICWC91m5OiDZrJ0wcbaJ-c87E09fmNHc3uZM8K5O7ils/s1600/St.+Marys+Major.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHCWMnYqvnce3-Gi22l8lpyvx13DF3WBa-Gi56MlV0zqsEXeBt0RX3I-s6h40-Ilhq4c8pdegVEtHE538EC3TEkL-c6TCdY3ICWC91m5OiDZrJ0wcbaJ-c87E09fmNHc3uZM8K5O7ils/s320/St.+Marys+Major.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Interior - St. Mary Major </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The
monumental effect is due to the structure of the basilica and the
harmony that reigns among the principal architectural elements. The <b>basilica</b> is divided into a <i>nave</i> and <i>two side aisles</i>
by two rows of precious columns. Above these columns runs the
skillfully wrought entablature, interrupted at the transept by the grand
arches erected for the building of <i>the Sistine and Pauline chapels</i>. The area between the columns and the ceiling was once punctuated by <i>large windows</i>,
half of which still remain, while the other half have been covered over
by a wall. Over the walled windows, today one can admire <i>frescos</i> showing stories from the life of the <i>Virgin</i>. Above the <i>window</i> and <i>frescos</i>,
a wooden frieze adorned with an exquisite inlay of cupid-like figures
riding bulls unites the cornice with the ceiling. The bulls are the
symbol of the <i>Borgia family</i>; and the coat of arms of <i>Callixtus III and Alexander VI</i>, <i>the Borgia popes, stand out at the center of the ceiling</i>. The coffered ceiling was designed by <i>Giuliano Sangallo</i> and later completed by his brother <i>Antonio</i>.<br />
In the <i>crypt</i> under the <i>high altar </i>lies the celebrated <i>relic known as the <b>Holy Crib</b></i>. A statue of Pope Pius IX kneeling before the ancient wooden pieces of the manger serves as an example to the faithful who come to see the first humble <b><i>crib of the Savior</i></b>.Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-44504541875457247322013-01-09T02:59:00.000-08:002013-01-09T02:59:13.189-08:00Famous Churches - The Churches of Peace at Jawor (Jauer) and Swidnica (Schweidnitz)<em>The Thirty Years' War </em>in <em>Europe</em> ended with the <em>Treaty of Westphalia (1648),</em> which upheld the principle of <em>cuius regio eius religio(</em> the faith professed by the ruler was obligatory for his subjects). At that time <em>Silesia</em> was a part of the <em>Catholic Habsburg monarchy</em>.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/wooden-church-in-swidnica-poland.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/wooden-church-in-swidnica-poland.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1070" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/wooden-church-in-swidnica-poland.jpg?w=300" height="184" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/wooden-church-in-swidnica-poland.jpg?w=300" title="Wooden Church in Swidnica, Poland" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wooden Church in Swidnica, Poland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In most of the province <em>Protestants </em>were persecuted and deprived of the right and possibility to practice their faith. Through the activity of the <em>Lutheran king of Sweden</em>, the Emperor finally allowed (1651-52) the erection of <em>three churches</em>, hereafter known as the <strong>Churches of Peace</strong>, in <em>Silesian principalities </em>under direct <em>Habsburg rule</em> in <em>Glogow (Glogau)</em>, which ceased to exist in the 18th century, <em>Jawor (Jauer), and Swidnica (Schweidnitz)</em> in the south-west part of present-day <em>Poland</em>. The churches had to be built exclusively of <em>perishable materials (wood and clay)</em>, located <em>outside city walls</em>,
and built in a limited period of time. These restrictions, together
with the need to provide adequate space for large crowds of worshippers,
forced the <em>architect, Albrecht von Sabisch (1610-88)</em>, a prominent <em>master-builder and fortification designer </em>active in <em>Wroclaw</em>, to implement pioneering <em>constructional and architectural solutions</em> of a scale and complexity unknown ever before or since in <em>wooden architecture</em>. The timber-framed structures of enormous scale and complexity were assembled.<br />
<ul>
<li>The first permit was given to <em>Glogow</em>
(1651) and the site was located 300m outside the city walls. Building
started quickly and the first service was held in October 1652, but the
church was destroyed by a violent storm in the summer of 1654. A <em>new church</em> was built the following year, but this burnt down in 1758 and was then replaced by a brick building.</li>
<li><strong><em>Church of Jawor</em></strong>. The permit for the other two churches was given in 1652; the <strong><em>Church of Jawor</em></strong>
was built in 1654-55. The church itself is of a large size, he walls
and ceiling are totally covered with white and blue ornaments. The floor
of the church in Jawor is completely filled with rows and rows of
wooden benches: it has room for 6000 people. There are no less than 143
biblical scenes painted on the walls, and an ornate high altar. A
wonderfully preserved and original site, and still in use.<strong> </strong></li>
<li><strong>Church of Swidnica. </strong><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/church-of-peace_jawor-poland.png" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/church-of-peace_jawor-poland.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1071" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/church-of-peace_jawor-poland.png?w=300" height="199" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/church-of-peace_jawor-poland.png?w=300" title="Church of Peace at Jawor, Poland" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church of Peace at Jawor, Poland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In <em>Swidnica</em>
a temporary structure (Gotteshüttlein, God's Hut) was built in 1652 and
the actual construction was able to take place in 1656-57, thanks to
the donation of <em>Count Hans Heinrich von Hochberg</em> and support from the <em>Lutheran magistrate of Swidnica</em>.
A new sacristy was erected in 1695 and private pews were built by noble
families in the early 18th century. Several auxiliary buildings were
added to the ensemble, including the residences of the pastor and the
vicars, a Latin school, and a German school. During the <em>Silesian War</em>, <em>Swidnica</em> was under siege on several occasions, and the hostilities resulted in the destruction of the <em>sacristy </em>and <em>structural damage</em> to the northern wall. All the damage was repaired by 1763.</li>
</ul>
Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-81715079410189402722013-01-09T02:42:00.000-08:002013-01-09T02:42:54.398-08:00Beautiful Churches - Rock Church (Temppeliaukio Kirkko), Helsinki<strong>Rock Church (Temppeliaukio Kirkko)</strong> in <em>Helsinki</em>i<strong>s</strong> also known as <strong>"Church in the Rock,"</strong> this modern church is carved from rock and has a <em>stunning copper dome</em>.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/rock-church-temppeliaukio-kirkko-helsinki.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/rock-church-temppeliaukio-kirkko-helsinki.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1080" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/rock-church-temppeliaukio-kirkko-helsinki.jpg?w=300" height="221" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/rock-church-temppeliaukio-kirkko-helsinki.jpg?w=300" title="Rock Church (Temppeliaukio Kirkko) in Helsinki" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock Church (Temppeliaukio Kirkko) in Helsinki</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Looks
like a bomb shelter from the outside, but the interior is wonderful.
The Temppeliaukio/Tempelplatsen (Temple square) was selected as a
location for a church in the 1930s,butit was interrupted in its early
stages when the <em>World War II</em> began in 1939.<strong> Rock Church (Temppeliaukio Kirkko)</strong> was built in 1968-1969. If you thought you didn't like modern architecture for Churches; this will definitely change your mind. <strong>Rock Church (Temppeliaukio Kirkko) </strong>was designed by two architect brothers <em>Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen</em>, who chose a <em>rocky outcrop</em> as the site for their Church. <strong>Rock Church</strong> was built inside of a massive block of <em>natural granite</em> in the middle of Töölö, an ordinary residential square in <strong>Helsinki</strong>. <em>The architects</em> have built in a combination of natural and man-made features into the <em>circular church</em> and its features are quite striking<strong>.</strong> The <em>walls</em> are of <em>bare rock</em>, the <em>ceiling</em> is a <em>giant disc</em> made of entirely of <em>copper wire</em> and <em>interior lighting</em> is from <em>natural light</em> streaming through <em>180 vertical glass window panes</em> that connect the dome and the wall. A solid copper-colored balcony provides a nice view of the church interior from above. <strong>The <strong>Lutheran Church</strong></strong> is also frequently used to host <em>classical concerts, with</em> the raw rock walls, the <em>acoustics</em>are excellent.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/interior-rock-church-temppeliaukio-kirkko.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/interior-rock-church-temppeliaukio-kirkko.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1081" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/interior-rock-church-temppeliaukio-kirkko.jpg?w=300" height="225" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/interior-rock-church-temppeliaukio-kirkko.jpg?w=300" title="Interior-Rock Church (Temppeliaukio Kirkko)" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior - Rock Church (Temppeliaukio Kirkko)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are no bells at the church, and a recording of bells composed by <em>Taneli Kuusisto</em> is played over the loudspeakers on the <em>exterior wall</em>. The dark and warm interior provides a beautiful place for worship. <strong>Rock Church (Temppeliaukio Kirkko</strong><strong> Church)</strong> is one of the most famous tourist attractions in <em>Helsinki</em>.<br />
<strong><span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;">Church Timings :</span></strong><br />
Monday to Tuesday - 10:00 AM to 08:00 PM,<br />
Wednesday - 10:00 AM to 06:45 PM,<br />
Thursday to Friday - 10:00 AM to 08:00 PM,<br />
Saturday - 10:00 AM to 06:00 PM,<br />
Sunday - 11:45 AM to 01:45 PM & 03:30 to 06:00 PMRogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-42799379761218841682013-01-09T02:35:00.000-08:002013-01-09T02:35:04.583-08:00Beautiful Churches - The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (Kiev Cave Monastery) in Ukraine<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-kyiv-pechersk-lavra-kiev-cave-monastery-in-ukraine.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-kyiv-pechersk-lavra-kiev-cave-monastery-in-ukraine.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1085" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-kyiv-pechersk-lavra-kiev-cave-monastery-in-ukraine.jpg?w=300" height="234" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-kyiv-pechersk-lavra-kiev-cave-monastery-in-ukraine.jpg?w=300" title="The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (Kiev Cave Monastery) in Ukraine" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (Kiev Cave Monastery) in Ukraine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra <em>(Kiev Cave Monastery)</em></strong> was built by <em>Kiev monks</em> back in 1051, this <em>striking building</em> is the most holy place in the <em>Ukraine</em>. In 1051, Saint Anthony took up residence in one of the <em>caves</em> on this hilly outcrop. Over the centuries the <em>Monastery</em> took on increasing significance as a religious centre until it was considered <em>Orthodox Christianity's</em> equivalent of <em>Rome or Jerusalem</em>.<br />
<strong><em>The Lavra (head monastery in Greek)</em></strong> is one of <em>Byzantium's holiest sites</em>, where Orthodox monks established their young religion until <strong><em>Batu Khan</em></strong> invaded and <em>burned Kiev</em> in 1274. Still magnificent with its <em>onion-shaped spires </em>and <em>gold ornamentation</em>, the <strong><em>Lavra</em></strong> is a visit to <em>Ukraine's glorious past</em>. It is still an active place of <em>Orthodox worship</em>. <em>The caves</em>
on the property serve as burial grounds for monks. There are a complex
system of underground tunnels 2 to 2.5 meters high and up to 1.5 meters
wide. The tunnels accessible to visitors in the <em>Short Caves</em> are 228 m long, in the <em>long Caves</em>, 293 m long.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-kyiv-pechersk-lavra-interior.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-kyiv-pechersk-lavra-interior.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-2181" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-kyiv-pechersk-lavra-interior.jpg?w=300" height="199" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-kyiv-pechersk-lavra-interior.jpg?w=300" title="The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (Interior)" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (Interior)</td></tr>
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There are three <em>underground churches</em> in each of the labyrinths. There are the <em>main church and monastery areas</em>, but there are also other <em>museums</em> within the compound, such as the <em>microscopic museum</em> with <em>carvings of Shevshenko</em>
on the head of a pin. Underground is where the mummified monks are. The
walls and towers of the monastery remaining today, date from 1698-1701.
The Great <strong><em>Lavra</em></strong> Bell tower, 96.5 metres high, (1731-1745) looms over Kyiv proudly. Kyiv’s then-highest structure was built according to plans by <em>architect Johann G. Schädel</em> from 1731 to 1744. In 1926, <strong><em>Lavra</em></strong> was converted into a <em>state history and culture museum</em>, and <strong><em>masses stopped being celebrated</em></strong>. Since 1990, the <strong>Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra</strong> is a <em>UNESCO World Heritage Site</em>, and in 1996 the reserve was decreed a <em>national monument</em>.Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-36426818015801686942013-01-09T02:23:00.002-08:002013-01-09T02:27:02.891-08:00Beautiful Churches - Saint Vitus Cathedral at Prague, Czech Republic<b><i>The Cathedral</i></b>, whose original name is <i>St Vitus</i>, <i>St Wenceslas </i>and <i>St Adalbert Cathedral</i>, is the biggest and the most important church in the <i>Czech Republic</i>. It’s the seat of the <i>Archbishop of Prague</i> and the place where saints, kings, princes and emperors of Bohemia are buried.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-vitus-cathedral-prague-czech-republic.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-vitus-cathedral-prague-czech-republic.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1089" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-vitus-cathedral-prague-czech-republic.jpg?w=300" height="199" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/st-vitus-cathedral-prague-czech-republic.jpg?w=300" title="St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague, Czech Republic" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague, Czech Republic</b></td></tr>
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<b>St. Vitus Cathedral</b> is the spiritual symbol of the <i>Czech State </i>and a <i>Gothic masterpiece.</i> The original church, also named <b><i>St. Vitus</i></b>, was a <i>Romanesque rotunda</i> founded by <i>Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia</i> in 925 and stood at the same location as the <i>present day cathedral</i>. The work on the <b>St. Vitus Cathedral</b> was started by <i>Charles IV</i>. It took nearly six centuries to complete. The <i>original church</i>, on a rotunda plan, was founded by <i>"Good King"</i> <b><i>St. Wenceslas</i></b> <i>(Christmas carol fame)</i> in 925. This was replaced with a <i>Romanesque basilica</i> in the late 11th century. Work on the present building began in 1344. Most of it was designed by the 22-year-old <b><i>German architect Peter Parler</i></b>, who also designed the <i>Charles Bridge</i> and other <b><i>Prague landmarks</i></b>. <i>The Hussite Wars and the Thirty Years' War</i> halted construction of <i>the cathedral</i> for several centuries. It was not until the <i>20th century</i> that the western side of <i>the cathedral</i> and its two towers were completed. Although modern, they were constructed according to <i>Parler's</i> original plans. The <i>interior</i> of the <i>cathedral</i> is quite spacious and features a variety of intricately adorned <i>chapels</i> illuminated by the light going through amazingly <i>designed stained glass windows </i>depicting various <i>sacred scenes</i>.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/interior-st-vitus-cathedral-prague-czech-republic1.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/interior-st-vitus-cathedral-prague-czech-republic1.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1094" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/interior-st-vitus-cathedral-prague-czech-republic1.jpg?w=224" height="300" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/interior-st-vitus-cathedral-prague-czech-republic1.jpg?w=224" title="Interior-St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague, Czech Republic" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Interior - St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The most important square <b><i>Chapel of St. Wenceslas</i></b> (<i>Svatováclavská kaple</i>) holds a 14th century tomb with the <b><i>saint's</i> <i>holy relics</i></b>. <i>St. Wenceslas</i> was prince of <i>Bohemia</i> and the <i>"good king" of Christmas carols fame</i>. <b><i>St. Wenceslas Chapel</i></b> is decorated with <i>frescoes </i>and <i>semi-precious stones</i>. A door in the south-western corner of the chapel leads to the <i>Crown Chamber</i> in which the <i>Bohemian Coronation Jewels</i> are stored. He founded the <i>original church</i> of <b><i>St. Vitus</i></b> on this site in 925 and was killed by his brother four years later. <i>The chapel</i> was built by <i>Peter Parler</i> between 1344 and 1364.<br />
<b><span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;">Church Timings</span></b><br />
Monday to Saturday -9AM to 4PM<br />
Sundays -12PM to 4PM<br />
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Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-91445757100264553402012-12-31T01:37:00.000-08:002012-12-31T01:51:14.334-08:00Unique Churches - The Church of Panagia Paraportiani in Mykonos Greece, Cyclades<b>The Church of Panagia Paraportiani in Mykonos Greece, Cyclades</b>: The lovely church of <i>Panagia (Virgin Mary) Paraportiani</i> is among the most photographed churches in <i>Mykonos</i>.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-church-of-panagia-paraportiani-in-mykonos-greece.jpeg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-church-of-panagia-paraportiani-in-mykonos-greece.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1102 " data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-church-of-panagia-paraportiani-in-mykonos-greece.jpeg?w=300" height="188" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-church-of-panagia-paraportiani-in-mykonos-greece.jpeg?w=300" title="The Church of Panagia Paraportiani in Mykonos Greece" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Church of Panagia Paraportiani in Mykonos Greece</td></tr>
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<b><i>The Panagia Paraportiani (Our Lady of the Postern Gate)</i></b> is the most famous of the many churches on <i>Mykonos</i>. The sloping, whitewashed conglomeration of four chapels mixes <i>Byzantine and vernacular architecture</i>. Its position on a promontory facing the sea sets off the unique architecture. It is located at the entrance of <i>Kastro</i> neighborhood, right next to the sea. Its name <i>Paraportiani </i>actually
means "standing next to the entrance door", meaning that the church was
next to the Castle door. The building of this church started in 1425
and was not completed until the 17th century. The special thing about
this church is that it actually consists of <i>five small churches</i> that were built one on top or next to the other. The church of <i>Agios Efstathios</i>is the centre of this complex, surrounded by the churches of <i>Agios Anargyros, Agios Sozon </i>and <i>Agia Anastasia</i>. On top of these four churches, there is the <i>Church of Virgin Mary</i>, which looks like a dome. The five churches were not constructed at once, but gradually along centuries. The oldest church is <i>Agios Anargyros</i>, which was built in late 14th century. The other churches were built in the 16th and the 17th century.Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-74483309839597774392012-12-31T01:31:00.001-08:002012-12-31T01:31:56.520-08:00Famous Churches - The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood" (Spas na Kravi) at St Petersburg, Russia<strong>The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood" (known locally as Spas na Kravi)<em> </em></strong>is a spectacular <b>Russian-style church</b><em> </em>that was built on the spot where <b>Emperor Alexander II</b> was assassinated in March 1881.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/church_of_the_resurrection_of_christ_st_petersburg_russia_02.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/church_of_the_resurrection_of_christ_st_petersburg_russia_02.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1107" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/church_of_the_resurrection_of_christ_st_petersburg_russia_02.jpg?w=300" height="225" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/church_of_the_resurrection_of_christ_st_petersburg_russia_02.jpg?w=300" title="Church of the Resurrection of Christ at St. Petersburg, Russia" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, (Spas na Kravi), St. Petersburg, Russia</td></tr>
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After assuming power in 1855 in the wake of Russia’s devastating defeat in the Crimean war against Britain, France and Turkey, Alexander II initiated a number of reforms. During the second half of his reign <em>Alexander II</em>
grew cautious of the dangers of his system of reforms, having only
barely survived a series of attempts on his life, including an explosion
in <em>the Winter Palace </em>and the derailment of a train. <em>Alexander II</em> was finally <em>assassinated</em> in 1881 by a <em>group of revolutionaries</em>, who threw a <em>bomb </em>at his <em>royal carriage</em>. architects were invited to submit plans for the building of this permanent monument and the definitive designs of <em>Alfred Parland (1842-1920)</em>, were accepted after he won the competition set up by Alexander III, which stipulated that it had to be in the '<em>purely Russian style</em> of the 17th century'. The <em>foundation stone</em> was laid in 1883 and it took nearly a quarter of a century to complete. With its <em>distinctive cupolas</em> the <em>Muscovy design</em> is unique in <em>St. Petersburg</em> and provides a dramatic contrast to the <em>Neo-Classical Architecture</em> which dominates the city center. Amongst this <em>colorful exterior </em>are <em>20 granite plaques</em> recording the historic events of <em>Alexander II's reign</em>.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/small-church-of-spilt-blood-russia.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/small-church-of-spilt-blood-russia.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1108 " data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/small-church-of-spilt-blood-russia.jpg?w=225" height="300" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/small-church-of-spilt-blood-russia.jpg?w=225" title="small Church of Spilt Blood, Russia" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior- The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, (Spas na Kravi)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Inside there is almost 7,000 sq. meters of <em>Italian marble</em> and over 20 different <em>Russian minerals</em>, embellished with <em>opulent mosaics</em> based on paintings by <em>Nikolai Bruni, Mikhail Nesterov, Viktor (Vassili) Vasnetsov, Andrei Ryabushkin </em>and other religious artists of the late 19th century. <em>Christ and the Apostles</em> are portrayed within the cupola, whilst <em>the walls and pillars</em> are totally adorned with other <em>Biblical scenes or images</em> of saints. <em>Mosaics</em>
fill the niches, crevices and cornices and no surface is left bare of
ornamentation. The highest steeple is 81m (265 ft) high and the bell
tower seen on the left has 144 individual mosaic coats of arms. These
represent provinces, cities and towns of the Russian empire and were intended to reflect the nation's grief after the murder of their Tsar. <em>Lenin </em>originally
wished to demolish this monument to Tsardom until it was suggested that
because large buildings were scarce, it would serve well as a
warehouse. Bolsheviks proposed number of times to demolish this
increasingly popular monument to Christianity, but God Saved this <em>Marvelous Church</em>.Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-2253988458795976862012-12-31T01:13:00.000-08:002012-12-31T01:13:59.179-08:00Famous Churches -The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross), Florence, Italy <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/santa_croce_.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/santa_croce_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1113" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/santa_croce_.jpg?w=300" height="225" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/santa_croce_.jpg?w=300" title="-Santa_Croce_" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross),Florence</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross)</strong> is truly unique, not only for the purity of the <b>Gothic style</b>, but also for the famous works of art it contains and its historical importance. <strong><em> </em></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/santa-croce_1.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/santa-croce_1.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1114" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/santa-croce_1.jpg" height="252" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/santa-croce_1.jpg" title="Santa Croce_1" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior - The Basilica di Santa Croce, Florence</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong><em>Santa Croce</em></strong>, rebuilt for the <b>Franciscan order</b> in <strong>1294</strong> by <strong>Arnolfo di Cambio</strong>, is the burial place for the great and good in Florence. <strong>Michelangelo</strong> is buried in Santa Croce, as are <strong>Rossini</strong>, <strong>Machiavelli</strong>, and the Pisan-born <strong>Galileo Galilei</strong>, who was tried by the Inquisition and was not allowed a <strong>Christian burial</strong> until 1737, 95 years after his death. There is also a <strong>memorial to Dante</strong>, but his sarcophagus is empty. <strong>The present basilica</strong>, traditionally attributed to <strong>Arnolfo di Cambio</strong>, was built from 1295, on the site where, around 1210, the first <em>Franciscan Friars</em> to arrive in <em>Florence</em> had a small oratory. <em>Santa Croce</em> is planned as an <em>Egyptian cross (in the shape of a T)</em>, with an open timber roof; there are many tomb slabs set into the pavement. The <em>nave</em> is wide and well-lit, with massive widely-spaced <em>piers</em> supporting pointed arches. <em>The facade</em> with its <em>three gables</em> dates to the 19th century and the campanile in <em>Gothic style</em> also dates to this period. A portico of airy arches runs along the left flank and shelters the 14th-century <em>tomb of Francesco Pazzi</em>. The <em>imposing interior</em> has a <em>nave</em> and <em>two side aisles</em> separated by <em>slender octagonal piers</em> from which spring spacious <em>pointed arches</em> with a double molding. <strong>The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross), Florence, Italy<em> </em></strong>also contains numerous examples of <em>typically Renaissance sculpture</em>. The most famous of these is the <em>Crucifix by Donatello</em> <em>(1425, Bardi Chapel in the left transept)</em> and his <em>aristocratic Annunciation in grey stone</em> with gilded highlights (1430-35), recently restored by the <em>Opificio delle Pietre Dure</em>. <em>The Pulpit by</em> <em>Benedetto da Maiano (1472-80)</em> or <em>the Madonna of Milk by Antonio Rossellino (1478),</em> placed above <em>the tomb of Francesco Nori,</em> prior of the Republic, who died saving <em>Lorenzo the Magnificent</em> life at the time of the <em>" Pazzi Conspiracy",</em> the two funeral monuments by <em>Bernardo Rossellino (1444-1451) and Desiderio da Settignano (1455-64)</em>. The former, dedicated to <em>Leonardo Bruni (1369-1444)</em>, humanist and <em>Chancellor of the Republic</em>, is considered a prototype among <em>Renaissance</em> tomb monuments.<br />
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Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-73210037578027925062012-12-31T01:03:00.000-08:002012-12-31T01:03:02.790-08:00Famous Churches - The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/guadalupe-basilica-mexico.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/guadalupe-basilica-mexico.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-1212" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/guadalupe-basilica-mexico.jpg" height="272" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/guadalupe-basilica-mexico.jpg" title="guadalupe basilica, Mexico" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong>The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe</strong> is located in <strong><em>Templo Expiatorio a Cristo Rey</em></strong><em>,"</em> <strong>Mexico City</strong>, in the northern neighborhood of <strong><em>Villa de Guadalupe</em></strong> <strong><em>Hidalgo</em></strong>, Officially known as the <strong><em>"</em>The Legend. </strong>The construction of the <em>old basilica</em> began in 1531 and was not finished until 1709.<br />
<strong>Legend</strong><br />
According to the legend, <strong>Juan Diego</strong> was walking between his village and <em>Mexico City</em> on <strong>December 12, 1531</strong> when <strong>Our Lady of Guadalupe</strong> appeared, speaking to him in his native <em>Nahuatl language</em>. She told him to build a church at the site. When <strong>Juan Diego</strong> spoke to the <em>Spanish bishop</em>, the bishop did not believe him, asking for a miraculous sign to prove his vision's authenticity. <strong>The Virgin</strong> appeared to <strong>Juan Deigo</strong> again and, although it was winter, told him to gather flowers. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/our-lady-of-guadalupe.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/our-lady-of-guadalupe.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1213" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/our-lady-of-guadalupe.jpg?w=175" height="300" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/our-lady-of-guadalupe.jpg?w=175" title="Our Lady of Guadalupe" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Lady of Guadalupe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Miraculously, Spanish roses bloomed right at his feet. When <b>Juan Diego</b> presented these to the bishop, the roses fell from his apron (the <strong>Tilma</strong>) and an icon of <strong>the Virgin</strong> was <strong>miraculously imprinted</strong> on the cloth. <em>The bishop</em> ordered a Church built at once, dedicated to <strong>Our Lady of Guadalupe</strong>. Spanish <strong>missionaries</strong> used the story of her appearance to help convert millions of indigenous people in what had been the <em>Aztec Empire</em>.<br />
The <strong>original</strong> <strong>miraculous apron</strong> containing the image of the <strong>Virgin</strong> hangs behind bullet-proof glass above the altar in the <em>new basilica</em>. <em>The basilica</em> now houses a <em>museum</em>
of ex-votos (hand-painted depictions of miracles, dedicated to Mary or a
saint in gratitude) and popular religious art, paintings, sculpture,
and decorative and applied arts from the 15th through 18th centuries.<br />
<strong>The present church</strong> was constructed on the site of an earlier 16th-century church that was finished in 1709, the <strong>Old Basilica</strong>. When this basilica became dangerous due to the sinking of its foundations, a modern structure called the <strong>New Basilica</strong> was built next to it; the original image of <strong>the Virgin of Guadalupe</strong> is now housed in this <strong>New Basilica</strong>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/our-lady-of-guadalupe-mexico.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/our-lady-of-guadalupe-mexico.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1214" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/our-lady-of-guadalupe-mexico.jpg?w=300" height="225" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/our-lady-of-guadalupe-mexico.jpg?w=300" title="Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico</td></tr>
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Built between 1974 and 1976, the <strong>new Basilica</strong><em> </em>has
a circular floor plan. The circular structure is 100 meters (330 feet)
in diameter, and can accommodate up to 50,000 people. The choir is
located between the altar and the churchgoers to indicate that it, too,
is part of the group of the faithful.<br />
To the sides are the chapels of the <em>Santisimo</em> and of <em>Saint Joseph</em>.
It has 9 chapels on the upper floor. Under the main floor are the
Basilica's crypts, with 15,000 niches and 10 chapels. Its seven front
doors are an insinuation to the <em>seven gates of Celestial Jerusalem</em> referred to by <strong>Christ</strong>.Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-69568612558658094122012-12-31T00:50:00.001-08:002012-12-31T00:50:46.944-08:00Famous Churches - The Basilica at Eztergom, HungaryThe small town of <strong>Esztergom</strong> sitting on the bank of <strong>River <strong>Danube</strong></strong><em> </em>in <b>Hungary</b> played an important role in the establishment of the <strong><em>Hungarian state</em></strong>1000 years ago.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-basilica-at-eztergom-hungary.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-basilica-at-eztergom-hungary.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1219" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-basilica-at-eztergom-hungary.jpg?w=300" height="225" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-basilica-at-eztergom-hungary.jpg?w=300" title="The Basilica at Eztergom, Hungary" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <b>The Basilica at Eztergom, Hungary</b></td></tr>
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The building of <strong>The</strong><strong> Basilica at Eztergom</strong>, Hungary is constructed on the foundation of several earlier churches. The first was built by <strong>Stephen I</strong> of <strong>Hungary</strong>. <strong>Saint Stephen I</strong> was <em>Grand Prince</em> and the <strong>First King of Hungary</strong>. He greatly expanded <em>Hungarian</em> control over the <em>Carpathian Basin</em> during his lifetime, broadly established <em>Christianity </em>in the region. The <i><strong><em>Original Saint Adalbert Church</em></strong> </i>was constructed in 1001–1010, as the <strong>First Cathedral in Hungary</strong> and was burned down at the end of XII century. It was rebuilt, and even survived the Mongol invasion of Hungary. However, in 1304, <strong>Wenceslaus III</strong>, a probable candidate for the <strong>Hungarian throne</strong>, sacked the castle and the church. It was repaired in the following years.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/interior-the-basilica-at-eztergom-hungary.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/interior-the-basilica-at-eztergom-hungary.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1220" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/interior-the-basilica-at-eztergom-hungary.jpg?w=300" height="200" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/interior-the-basilica-at-eztergom-hungary.jpg?w=300" title="The Basilica at Eztergom, Hungary" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Basilica at Eztergom, Hungary</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong>The archbishops</strong> of the XIV and XV century decorated and improved the church, made alterations and added a huge <em>library</em> (The second most significant one in the country). It was ruined again under <em>Turkish rule</em>, in 1543. In 1820, the <strong>Archdiocese<em> </em></strong>was restored and <strong>Archbishop Sándor Rudnay<em> </em></strong>decided to restore status as <em>mother church of the country</em>. <strong>The architect</strong> was <strong>Pál Kühnel </strong>, the lead contractor was <strong>János Packh</strong>. <em>The foundation-stone</em> was laid and work began in 1822 and the final completion of <strong>The Basilica at Eztergom</strong> took place twelve years later in 1869. It is the <strong>tallest building</strong> in <strong>Hungary</strong> and the <strong>18th biggest church in the world<em>. </em></strong><em>The Church </em>maintains the <strong>relics of</strong> <strong>Catholic martyr</strong> and <strong>Saint Marko Krizin</strong>.Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9213603716490010360.post-83982139420559810532012-12-31T00:42:00.000-08:002012-12-31T00:42:14.532-08:00Famous Churches - The Cathedral of Seville, Andalusia, Spain<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-cathedral-of-seville-andalusia-spain.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-cathedral-of-seville-andalusia-spain.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-1231 " data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-cathedral-of-seville-andalusia-spain.jpg" height="234" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/the-cathedral-of-seville-andalusia-spain.jpg" title="The Cathedral of Seville, Andalusia, Spain" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> The Cathedral of Seville, Andalusia, Spain</td></tr>
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The <strong>Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Sea</strong> (<em>Catedral de Santa María de la Sede</em>), better known as <strong>Seville Cathedral</strong>, is a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Seville, Andalusia, Spain. <strong>Seville's Cathedral </strong>occupies the site of a great mosque in the late 12th century. It is the <em>largest Cathedral in Spain</em> and the third largest (by square footage) in the entire world. It is one of the last <strong>Spanish Gothic Cathedrals</strong>, and the Renaissance style is already evident there. Its impressive size makes it the third largest in the Christian world, after Saint Peter's in Vatican City and Saint Paul's in London. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/seville-spain-cathedral-2.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/seville-spain-cathedral-2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1232" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/seville-spain-cathedral-2.jpg?w=200" height="300" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/seville-spain-cathedral-2.jpg?w=200" title="Interior - The Cathedral of Seville, Andalusia, Spain" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Interior - The Cathedral of Seville, Andalusia, Spain</td></tr>
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With its five naves it is the <strong>largest Gothic building</strong> in Europe. <strong>Christian architects</strong> added
the extra dimension of height. Its central nave rises to an amazing 42
meters and even the side chapels seem tall enough to contain an ordinary
church.<br />
The total area covers 11,520 square meters. The lifetime's work of a single craftsman, <strong>Pierre Dancart,</strong>
this is the ultimate masterpiece of the cathedral - the largest and
richest altarpiece in the world and one of the finest examples of <strong>Gothic woodcarving<em> </em></strong>anywhere. <strong>The cathedral</strong>was completed in just over a century (1402-1506).<br />
Inside <strong>the Cathedral of Seville</strong>
you will be struck by the size and richness of this universe of stone,
stained glass windows and wrought iron work. The lightness of the
columns accentuates the height of this hall-church with five spaces and
lateral chapels.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/seville-cathedral.jpg" href="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/seville-cathedral.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-2223" data-mce-src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/seville-cathedral.jpg?w=300" height="220" src="http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/seville-cathedral.jpg?w=300" title="Seville Cathedral" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Interior</strong> - <b>Seville Cathedral</b></td></tr>
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The simple crossing ogive vaults cover the nave except
for the transept crossing where the flamboyant vaults stand 56 m tall. A
mirror in the floor lets you appreciate the superb carving. Along with
the city's <em>Alcazar and Archivo de las Indias,</em> <strong>Seville Cathedral</strong> was designated a <strong>World Heritage Site</strong> by <strong>UNESCO</strong> in 1987.<br />
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Rogers Tahirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494881654847492140noreply@blogger.com0