Religions, whether one believes in them or not, play very integral parts of daily living. They have been around for hundreds of centuries already, fulfilling the need of man to be able to believe in an omnipotent being who made the universe and all those that are found in it. Every religion has its sets of rules and guidelines that are aimed to guide the people to the path of the faithful. Temples are for Buddhists, mosques are for Muslims, cathedrals and Staten Island church are for Catholics and Christians alike.
They exude such breathtaking beauty that even those who are not affiliated in the said religion come to visit just to gawk at its designs. Most of these infrastructures are thousands of years old yet remarkably they retain the same majestic splendor that they had back in their heydays. If anything else, the years just added to their timeless beauty.
For some, these buildings are nothing but places where people worship the God that they believe in. The truth of the matter is that these different structures have different functions. For starters, very many people mistakenly use the term cathedral to define a castle like church with its magnanimous proportions. Not all big churches are cathedrals, and there are cathedrals that are not as imposing as the others.
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, on the other hand, is fashioned after the basilica structures in the times of Ancient Romans. It follows a longitudinal plan with the center naves extending to two aisles on either sides. However, a basilica has to be chosen and named as such by the pope himself.
The Catholic religion recognizes four major basilicas. All of them are found in Europe. Three are found in Rome, Italy, while the other one is in Vatican city. In addition, there are about a thousand of other minor basilicas all over the globe. Churches are granted basilica status because they house within their halls some objects that are venerated and relics of a recognized saint.
Those structures that house monks and other members of a holy order or society is termed as an abbey church, or to put it simply, an abbey. This is housed inside an exclusive complex along with a library, cloister, and other facilities that the religious might need. They were one of the most important buildings during the time.
These abbeys have often served as shelter in times of utmost peril. This is where most people run to when their lives are threatened, especially when they find themselves caught in warfare. Upon the end of the monastic era, the buildings were turned into local parish churches.
Truly, churches have a very colorful history behind every pillar and every pew. But, it does not necessarily mean that those which as not as magnificent as aforementioned are less. All of these serve the same purpose and deserve the same treatment.
They exude such breathtaking beauty that even those who are not affiliated in the said religion come to visit just to gawk at its designs. Most of these infrastructures are thousands of years old yet remarkably they retain the same majestic splendor that they had back in their heydays. If anything else, the years just added to their timeless beauty.
For some, these buildings are nothing but places where people worship the God that they believe in. The truth of the matter is that these different structures have different functions. For starters, very many people mistakenly use the term cathedral to define a castle like church with its magnanimous proportions. Not all big churches are cathedrals, and there are cathedrals that are not as imposing as the others.
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, on the other hand, is fashioned after the basilica structures in the times of Ancient Romans. It follows a longitudinal plan with the center naves extending to two aisles on either sides. However, a basilica has to be chosen and named as such by the pope himself.
The Catholic religion recognizes four major basilicas. All of them are found in Europe. Three are found in Rome, Italy, while the other one is in Vatican city. In addition, there are about a thousand of other minor basilicas all over the globe. Churches are granted basilica status because they house within their halls some objects that are venerated and relics of a recognized saint.
Those structures that house monks and other members of a holy order or society is termed as an abbey church, or to put it simply, an abbey. This is housed inside an exclusive complex along with a library, cloister, and other facilities that the religious might need. They were one of the most important buildings during the time.
These abbeys have often served as shelter in times of utmost peril. This is where most people run to when their lives are threatened, especially when they find themselves caught in warfare. Upon the end of the monastic era, the buildings were turned into local parish churches.
Truly, churches have a very colorful history behind every pillar and every pew. But, it does not necessarily mean that those which as not as magnificent as aforementioned are less. All of these serve the same purpose and deserve the same treatment.
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