Christian Architecture
In this analysis I will be discussing the importance of architecture in religious faiths, specifically the Christian faith. Religious architecture may also be called sacred architecture because of the importance and significance it has toward different religions. Some of the factors that contribute to the sacredness of the architecture can be anything from where it’s located, what it’s made out of, why its built in a certain way, to what other symbolic features it may have, are all important details to these religious and sacred buildings. I have chosen to focus on three specific buildings/places that show the importance of architecture in religion, first will be the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal, then The Mount of Olives, and finally the Salt Lake Temple.
The Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, which was built in 1824, is very well known for its Gothic Revival architecture, which is among the most dramatic in the world. The interior of the basilica is gorgeous with a lot of symbolism in it. One of the most obvious ones being that the ceiling is colored a deep blue to help people feel like they are out in the open, or in nature. Which helps people feel like they are more at one with god because they feel like they aren’t covered by a building. Another important feature of this building is the stained glass windows. In most religious buildings stained glass windows show pictures of Christ and or bible stories. This building does not show bible stories in them they are actually pictures of Montreal and different things that are in the city. This helps the people to feel more at home and comfortable while they are worshipping. Throughout the building there are many statues of Christ and other biblical people. These statues help people to remember why they are there and remind them of how they should act. All of the statues and many other features are made out of different kinds of rare woods. This reminds worshippers of the importance and sacredness of Christ and other bible stories. The sanctuary is decorated to represent the significance and true meaning of the sacrament, or the mass. The Crucifixion is at the center of the altarpiece which is Christ represented as dying on the cross. The Virgin Mary and Saint John stand on the sides of the cross, while Mary Magdalene kneels at Christ’s feet. This is there to stand as a witness of the unity that exists between Christ’s sacrifice and the mass.
The Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, which was built in 1824, is very well known for its Gothic Revival architecture, which is among the most dramatic in the world. The interior of the basilica is gorgeous with a lot of symbolism in it. One of the most obvious ones being that the ceiling is colored a deep blue to help people feel like they are out in the open, or in nature. Which helps people feel like they are more at one with god because they feel like they aren’t covered by a building. Another important feature of this building is the stained glass windows. In most religious buildings stained glass windows show pictures of Christ and or bible stories. This building does not show bible stories in them they are actually pictures of Montreal and different things that are in the city. This helps the people to feel more at home and comfortable while they are worshipping. Throughout the building there are many statues of Christ and other biblical people. These statues help people to remember why they are there and remind them of how they should act. All of the statues and many other features are made out of different kinds of rare woods. This reminds worshippers of the importance and sacredness of Christ and other bible stories. The sanctuary is decorated to represent the significance and true meaning of the sacrament, or the mass. The Crucifixion is at the center of the altarpiece which is Christ represented as dying on the cross. The Virgin Mary and Saint John stand on the sides of the cross, while Mary Magdalene kneels at Christ’s feet. This is there to stand as a witness of the unity that exists between Christ’s sacrifice and the mass.
The Mount of Olives is a very significant location in the Christian religion. This is where Jesus taught his disciples many things that are recorded in the bible. Also at the bottom of the Mount of Olives is the garden of Gethsemane, which is where Jesus prayed in agony for the people of the world. The Mount of Olives is called this because of the olive trees, which have grown upon it for thousands of years. There is a lot of symbolism in the Christian faith because of the olive tree and the olive. The olive leaf has always been a symbol of peace around the world. Some other interesting details about the olive tree are that they never die. If they are burned, or chopped down they grow back. Which is symbolic of Christ’s gospel because once he established it on the earth he never wanted it to leave the earth. The olives from the trees have a deep meaning of symbolism in the Christian faith. To receive oil from the olive you must squeeze the oil out of it. To do this they would get large rocks to roll over them and the weight of the rock would squeeze out the oil. This process is symbolic to when Jesus Christ prayed for the sins of the people of the world. He was pushed down by the weight of their sins until "he sweated great drops of blood," (Holy Bible, Luke 22:44) his life’s oil.
Another piece of architecture that has a lot of symbolism to its religion is the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple. This temple belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. On top of one of the many steeples of this temple is an angel called Moroni. He is a messenger to the world that the gospel has been restored to the earth and he is a herald to the second coming. This helps people of this faith remember Christ even when they just see the temple as they drive down the road. There are many spires, or steeples on the temple and they all represent different things. The three towers on the east side represent the First Presidency of the Church and the Melchizedek Priesthood; the twelve pinnacles rising from the towers represent the Twelve Apostles. The three towers on the west side represent the Presiding Bishopric and the Aaronic Priesthood; the twelve pinnacles rising from the towers represent the High Council. These are all very important things in the L.D.S. religion. High on the west center tower is an engraving of the Big Dipper, which is a constellation, used by travelers for thousands of years to find the North Star. It is a symbol for the temple where people come to get their bearings on the journey home. Located at the top each of the center towers of the temple is the all-seeing eye of God, which represents God's ability to see all things.
These are just a few buildings that have religious symbolism through their architecture. And I only pointed out a few things about each structure, there is so much more to the buildings then what meets the eye. Everything about these buildings is to help people of that faith learn and grow in their own personal way.
These are just a few buildings that have religious symbolism through their architecture. And I only pointed out a few things about each structure, there is so much more to the buildings then what meets the eye. Everything about these buildings is to help people of that faith learn and grow in their own personal way.