Download The physical spaces of Catholic churches and cathedrals are rich

The physical spaces of Catholic churches and
cathedrals are rich with symbolic meaning.
Everything the Catholic sees upon entering a place
of worship has a particular meaning when someone
knows how to read it. Most cathedrals and many
churches are laid out in some form of a cross, the
most recognizable Christian symbol. A relic, a piece
of bone or clothing from a saint, is embedded into
the altar of almost all Catholic churches and
cathedrals, blessing the space with its holiness. The
sacred spaces are decorated with statuary, paintings,
and other forms of visual art that depict scenes from
the lives of Christ, Mary, and the saints or
representations of Catholic doctrines like judgment,
salvation, and a heavenly future. Some cathedrals
have ceilings that reach toward the heavens to send
the believer's soul soaring to the skies. The stained
glass windows are art, storybook, and catechism all rolled into one, laying out stories from the lives of Jesus, Mary, and
the saints.
Most of the great cathedrals were built in a time when no
more than 5% of the population could read words, but the
majority of the Catholic population could read symbols.
When they saw a stained glass window showing a woman
holding a cross, for instance, Catholics of bygone days
understood that this was St. Helena, just as a man wearing a
black robe and holding a book was St. Benedict. Stories of
the saints were told to instruct Catholics in the Christian
life, and the art Catholics saw around them was designed to
reinforce that instruction. Reading the book of symbols may
be more difficult for modern Catholics than for their
medieval and early modern counterparts, who were
instructed in their faith with the help of this sort of
symbolism rather than with books.
Orthodox church buildings have the
following basic shapes, each with its
own symbolism:




Elongated: rectangle, rounded
rectangle (oval), symbolizing
the ship as a means of salvation
(Noah's Ark)
Cruciform (cross shaped)
Star shaped
Circular
The cupola instead of a flat ceiling
symbolizes the sky. In Russian
churches, cupolas are often topped by
onion-shaped domes, where crosses are
mounted. These domes are called
"heads" (глава) or "poppy heads"
(маковица, маковка). Sometimes crosses have a crescent-like shape at the bottom so that the shape resembles
an anchor, which symbolizes hope for
salvation.[citation needed]
The altar (sanctuary) is situated in the eastern part
of the church, regardless of its shape. A bell
tower is attached to (or built separately by) the
western part of the church.
Churches are rectangular in design. Another popular shape,
churches with large choirs is cruciform or cross-shaped.
patterns may vary in shape and complexity, with chapels
added around the main church, or triple altars (Liturgy may
performed once a day on any particular altar), but in
symbolic layout of the church remains the same.
The Church building is divided into three main parts: the
(vestibule), the nave (the temple proper) and the sanctuary
altar or holy place).
The church building has many symbolic
meanings; perhaps the oldest and most prominent
is the concept that the Church is the Ark of
Salvation (as in Noah's Ark) in which the world is
saved from the flood of temptations. Because of
this, most
Orthodox
especially for
Architectural
sometimes
only be
general, the
narthex
(also called the
Traditional mosques are built around a large dome..
This architectural element holds no spiritual or symbolic
significance, and is purely aesthetic. The interior of a dome is
usually highly decorated with floral, geometric and other
patterns. The interior is also plainly furnished and covered with
prayer rugs. This allows followers to prostrate themselves in
prayer. Most mosques also provide running water or pools
used for ritual washing.
When Muslims pray in a mosque, they face a mihrab, a small
alcove or niche, marking the direction of Mecca. Another
common feature of a mosque is a minbar, a pulpit for the
imam who preaches the Friday sermon.
Although mosques are plainly furnished the walls and ceiling
are often inlaid with beautifully designed inscriptions of the
Koran. The designs are done in calligraphy, a prominent Islamic art form.
Another important feature of a mosque is a tall, slender tower called a minaret or ma’dhana . Minarets vary in architecture and size.
Each morning, the adhan, call to prayer, is chanted from atop the minaret by a person known as a muezzin. The call is repeated five
times a day. In most large cities, the muezzin’s voice comes through a loudspeaker, filtering into the streets.
Key
Cathedrals1. Czech Republic
2. Saint Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy
3. Berlin
Eastern Orthodox
1. Romania
2. Greece
3. Romania
Mosques1. Netherlands
2. Chechnya
3. London
Questions:
What do you see in the buildings?
What symbols do you see in the buildings?
What do the buildings have in common?
What characteristics are missing from these buildings vs. the others?
Are there any that resemble each other?