The Religious Architecture Thread

[Pancho Frijoles]

Hi there

Opening this thread so that we can share photos and comments on the religious buildings that fascinate our imagination.
Can be churches, temples or places of worship of any religion. Can be very simple or very complex, small or huge, old or modern.
Let us know your tastes and if any of them is linked to you in any special way.

Below is the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, in the capital of Cote de Ivoire, Africa.
Here is some information collected through Bing Copilot


The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, also known as Basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix de Yamoussoukro, is a Roman Catholic basilica located in Yamoussoukro, the political capital of Côte d’Ivoire. It was commissioned by the country’s first President, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, and consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 19901.
Here are some interesting facts about the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace:

• Architecture: The basilica features a 158-meter-high dome and can accommodate 18,000 worshippers inside and 300,000 on the exterior esplanade. Built with marble, it measures 195 meters in length and 150 meters in width. Alongside St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, the Basilica of Our Lady Aparecida in Brazil, and the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba in Spain, it ranks among the largest churches in the world2.
• History: Former Ivorian President Félix Houphouët-Boigny personally funded the nearly $300 million construction cost between 1986 and 1989. Initially, the Vatican hesitated due to the ostentatious nature of the project, but local bishops’ pressure led to its acceptance with conditions: the construction of a hospital for the poor adjacent to the basilica and the establishment of a Catholic University. Pope John Paul II consecrated it on September 10, 1990. The basilica is owned by the Holy See and currently administered by Polish Pallottine priests2.

 

[Debp]

As a lover of interesting architecture, this is a good thread.

I mostly prefer old architecture. Also, living in Los Angeles, I admire Spanish and Mediterranean architecture.

Not sure what the difference is between Spanish and Mediterranean...they seem to be the same to me. Maybe I'm wrong about that.

Here is the first Protestant Church built in Los Angeles....a Congregational church. I attended it for several years until a way too liberal pastor came.

I always liked the sense of God's presence in that quiet, reverent building.

It always reminds me of a cathedral in England.

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

I always liked the sense of God's presence in that quiet, reverent building.

I share the same feeling, Debp. I think religious architecture should lead, above all things, to reverent silence.
Fun and noisy praise to God is appropriate for other kind of locations, in my view. Teaching activities also require another kind of facilities.
I understand that it is not always possible to have specific facilities for all kind of religious activities, but my preference for a place where the believer expects intimate communication with God along other fellows is rather quiet, with few distractors.

Some buildings are so beautiful, or have such historical and artistic value, that become a touristic attraction. I suppose it is challenging to keep a balance between giving everybody the opportunity to appreciate such value, and let the believers enough time and room for quite reflection.

I visited St Paul Cathedral in London few years ago. It is gorgeous. Here is a 3 min video about it.

 

[Behold]

 

[Behold]

New Creation Church ( Singapore).
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[Behold]

St Basil (Moscow)
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[Matthias]

Malawi. This isn’t a photograph that I took, and I don’t recognize the woman in the picture, but the place of worship where she is standing is more beautiful to me than the magnificent buildings designed and constructed by the skilled hands of man. I’m not putting them down in the least; I’m elevating this as an example of a place of worship that touches me personally more than do the outstanding structures of man.

 

[Debp]

I share the same feeling, Debp. I think religious architecture should lead, above all things, to reverent silence.
Fun and noisy praise to God is appropriate for other kind of locations, in my view. Teaching activities also require another kind of facilities.
I understand that it is not always possible to have specific facilities for all kind of religious activities, but my preference for a place where the believer expects intimate communication with God along other fellows is rather quiet, with few distractors.

Some buildings are so beautiful, or have such historical and artistic value, that become a touristic attraction. I suppose it is challenging to keep a balance between giving everybody the opportunity to appreciate such value, and let the believers enough time and room for quite reflection.

I visited St Paul Cathedral in London few years ago. It is gorgeous. Here is a 3 min video about it.

I guess we all go through different stages in our lives. For me, quiet reverence is more preferred.

I was outside of St. Paul's Cathedral London and don't recall the inside...it was 1976! Either there was a service going on or else I just took photos outside.

Took my mom on the trip. We did walk around Westminster Abbey, inside. Another amazing building.

Always amazing how these magnificent structures were built so long ago. Quite skillful people.... taking after the Creator in creating.

View attachment 46618

Behold, is this St. Patrick's, NYC? Just guessing.

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

View attachment 46626

Malawi. This isn’t a photograph that I took, and I don’t recognize the woman in the picture, but the place of worship where she is standing is more beautiful to me than the magnificent buildings designed and constructed by the skilled hands of man. I’m not putting them down in the least; I’m elevating this as an example of a place of worship that touches me personally more than do the outstanding structures of man.

God bless you, Matthias, for this insight.

Your post made me remember the hymn more known and sung among Baha’is all over the word: “Blessed is the Spot”
The lyrics reproduces the words of Bahà’u’lláh

 

[Behold]

Behold, is this St. Patrick's, NYC? Just guessing.

Yes.

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

The Mosque of Cordoba is one of the most beautiful religious buildings I have had the privilege to be in.
It was first a Christian Church, then a mosque, now a catholic church again.
The blend of Christian and Islamic influences is amazing. The short video (2 and a half min) below will give you a good glimpse into this marvel .

 

[Behold]

Vladmir Cathedral
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[Pancho Frijoles]

Vladmir Cathedral
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View attachment 46726

Audacious combination of colors! I liked it.

 

[Matthias]

What about here, this place, Christianity Board, as a place of worship @Pancho Frijoles? Some members think of the forums that way. Have you considered the possibility that is why the community was set up the way that it is with “Christians Only” and with non-fellowship parking for visitors outside?

 

[Behold]

What about here, this place, Christianity Board, as a place of worship @Pancho Frijoles? Some members think of the forums that way. Have you considered the possibility that is why the community was set up the way that it is with “Christians Only” and with non-fellowship parking for visitors outside?

Have you considered that this forum allows "other religions" to invite Christians to become that??

You are able to comprehend this fact?

If not.......Just ask Him, as He's posted about his religion, as a personal invitation.... and some here have read it with way too much personal interest.

 

[Matthias]

Have you considered that this forum allows "other religions" to invite Christians to become that??

Good on this forum for allowing the invitation from “other religions” to be seen and heard by Christian and non-Christian members.

The invitation may be accepted or declined.

You are able to comprehend this fact?

If not.......Just ask Him, as He's posted about his religion, as a personal invitation.... and some here have read it with way too much personal interest.

Signed, the Nanny.

 

[Behold]

Good on this forum for allowing the invitation from “other religions” to be seen and heard by Christian and non-Christian members.

The invitation may be accepted or declined.

The Devil is in perfect agreement with you again, @Matthias

He loves it when "christians" want other christians to have a choice to try something else. (another faith that isn't Christian).

You have a very interesting point of view, for a "once i was a pastor".
I think i see that situation in a brand new light, now.

 

[Matthias]

The Devil is in perfect agreement with you again, @Matthias

He loves it when "christians" want other christians to have a choice to try something else. (another faith that isn't Christian).

You have a very interesting point of view, for a "once i was a pastor".
I think i see that situation in a brand new light, now.

I didn’t say anything about trying something else. I’m talking about being educated.

 

[Behold]

I didn’t say anything about trying something else. I’m talking about being educated.

The Devil leads a person into a cult, by showing them the cult... like this... = "here is what we believe.. what do you think about it". ???

See that?

The devil leads a person into deception, exactly the same way...>He gets you to consider it, and then the power of the "doctrine of devils" that is a spiritual power, as we "war not against flesh and blood, but against Spiritual powers"///. and those are TEACHINGS... and the Devil has a lot of them that sound TRUE, and that is the initial "open door" into the darkness that is waiting.. to capture your mind.

The Christian is to resist this, not welcome it., and a "christian forum" should be the SAME.

 

[Matthias]

The Devil leads a person into a cult, by showing them the cult... "here is what we believe.. what do you think about it".

See that?

Sure.

The devil leads a person into deception, exactly the same way...>He gets you to consider it, and then the power of the "doctrine of devils" that is a spiritual power, as we "war not against flesh and blood, but against Spiritual powers"///. and those are TEACHINGS... and the Devil has a lot of them that sound TRUE, and that is the initial "open door" into the darkness that is waiting.. to capture your mind.

Operation Skyhook.