What You Should Know About Staten Island Church

By Elsa English


Churches are important for Catholics and Christians, just as mosques are for Muslims and temples are for Buddhists. These are special places of worships people come to fulfill religious duties as part of their faithful obligations. They come in all sizes, they come in all forms. They have distinct characteristics, yet they have their own uniqueness that make them just perfect for the purpose by which they are made. Very beautiful churches abound the world, including Staten Island church.

The architecture of these buildings are as old as the centuries old religion itself. Roman Catholic Churches are well known for their complex structural forms that display the work of what seems to be no less than very accomplished workmen. Most churches are often included in the array of finest buildings in an area.

A church building can serve many functions. Cathedrals are well known to everyone, religious or otherwise. It is a common misconception that these have to be large and very imposing with all its pillars and intricate arches, as most well known ones are. The truth of the matter is that size does not really matter so much for a building to be called a cathedral.

There are many reasons why cathedrals are just magnificently built, though. First off, this is where the bishop says his mass. It is also the location for big liturgical rites such as ordination of new priests, and it simply has to be able to house hundreds of people who will flock in to witness the said events. Another reason is that they are traditional places of pilgrimage from people all over the world. Being a building dedicated to the glory of God, it should be made the best as money and skill can possible make it to be.

A basilica, in the architectural sense, bears similarities in the structures of the ancient Roman basilicas, hence the apt name. It typically has a longitudinal plan rather than a central one. The center naves of these structures have aisles on both sides and are often separated by a colonnade. In the ecclesiastical sense, however, it will only be termed as such if it were designated with basilica status by the pope.

There are four designated major basilicas in the world. These are the four churches of Rome of the fourth century tradition, including the very well known Basilica of St. Peter. One of the many reasons why a church is raised into the status of a basilica is because it houses a relic of a saint or objects of religious veneration.

Abbeys are church buildings occupied by monastic orders such as the Franciscans, Augustinians, Jesuits, and other religious societies. Back in the monastic era these does not only feature a place of worship. It often includes an entire complex that caters to the needs of the monks living in it.

Abbeys also serve not only the monastic community but also the local community as well. Monks and friars were usually the ones the villagers ask for help. When these monasteries were dissolved, they just doubled as parish churches.

The solemnity that one craves when going to a church is not at all exclusive to the impressive looking buildings. There are still many beautiful ones in even the busiest parts of the world. This is just proof that many people still believe in religion even if the society has lapsed into a time when it does not really matter anymore.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment