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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?