Orthodox & Catholic Churches From The Inside
A post by @stef1 gave me the idea to compare the interior decoration of Orthodox and Catholic churches.
I identify 2 main differences.:
- There are no benches to sit on in Orthodox churches.
- Orthodox churches have icons, while Catholic churches have figures, statues of saints and Christ.
The year is 2021. Valaam Island, Lake Ladoga.
This is the iconostasis of the Transfiguration Cathedral, the main and largest temple of the Valaam Monastery. Worship services are held on 2 floors. The upper floor is not heated and is only open in the summer.
This is a modern wall and ceiling painting. In Soviet times, the temple was in a deplorable state. There are few churches in the Russian Orthodox Church with antique paintings.
Milan. The year is 2017. At that time, I only had a smartphone in my hands and its quality was not the best at that time.
San Bernardino allee Ossa (ital. La chiesa di San Bernardino alle Ossa is a Catholic church known for its side chapel, an ossuary decorated with numerous human skulls and bones.
Historical information:
The area where the church is located has played an important religious role since the 4th century A.D. In 1145, a hospital (ospedale) was built next to the cemetery at the Basilica of Santo Stefano Maggiore. Over time, the cemetery at the hospital quickly filled up, and in 1210 a special room was built for storing bones from it — an ossuary. In 1269, a small church dedicated to St. Bernardin of Siena was added to it.
In the 17th century, the church was restored under the supervision of architect Giovanni Andrea Biffy. He expanded the building and incorporated human remains into the wall decor. In 1712, most of the building was destroyed by fire. After that, the church was restored according to the design of architect Carlo Giuseppe Merlo in the Baroque style with a centric plan and a more monumental facade. The construction was completed in 1717, and the facade was completed in 1776, giving the church its current appearance.
In 1931, during the restoration, a hidden crypt with bones and relics was discovered under the church, which added new layers to the understanding of the history of this place.
2018, Barcelona.
The Redemptive Sagrada Familia is a famous Catholic church, one of the most recognizable architectural masterpieces in the world, the construction of which began in 1882 and continues to this day. Its author is the outstanding architect Antoni Gaudi, who radically redesigned the original Neo—Gothic design.
2019, Rome. The Vatican.
2019, Rome.
Santa Maria Maggiore (ital. Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore, Latin. The Basilica Sanctae Mariae Maioris is a Catholic church on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, one of the most beautiful of the four papal basilicas.
Our hotel was located next to this Cathedral and I looked at it from the window every morning.
Yes, all churches around the World, regardless of Religion, are beautiful in their interior decoration.
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