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Mexican Offline OP
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Hi

I just visited the site of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church to read the Easter Messages and found several pictures of Churches.

I almost fainted when saw this picture:

http://www.greco-catolic.ro/imagini.asp?categ=biserici&care=clujgrigorescu

But this one, on the other side, is very byzantine and nice:

http://www.greco-catolic.ro/imagini.asp?categ=biserici&care=catlugoj

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The second church is very impressive, but if you think the first one is unusual, today while visiting churches for Good Friday, I went into St Adalbert RC in the Pilsen area of Chicago, and what did I see next to the altar ? Jesus in the tomb flanked by angels, AND IT WAS AN ICON !

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Quote
Originally posted by Mexican:
I just visited the site of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church to read the Easter Messages and found several pictures of Churches.

I almost fainted when saw this picture
Mexican,

I'd have reached out to break your fall, but I was on the floor next to you frown

That may be the most latinized church building claiming to be Eastern that I have ever seen. If I were a Latin Catholic, I'd have been proud to be a parishoner there: as a Latin church, it was quite lovely; as a Byzantine church, it was an abomination.

The Pantocrator of the second church was magnificent; admittedly (to my eye, at least), a very soft style of iconography, but not inconsistent with other Romanian iconography that I've seen.

Thanks for sharing these.

Many years,

Neil


"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
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Neil

Abomination is awfully strong language. Entirely incorrect for a Byzantine Church would be appropriate, but a crucifix cannot be an abomination.

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Lawrence,

Although I think I could defend it as a choice under a secondary or tertiary definition, I agree that it was at the very least strong. I'll retract the term, but there's got to be another acceptable term of disagreeability which, having not yet had coffee, I can't dredge up right now.

Interestingly, on a second look, it is without kneelers (which the truly Eastern church did have); also, if my eye is not deluding me, there are 2 crosses inlaid on the floor of the solea, the one on the facing left looks to be three-barred.

Many years and a blessed Pascha to you and yours. It's nice to see someone able to reprove another here (even if it's me frown ) without belligerence or venom smile .

Neil


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One the outstanding characteristics of Romania is that it still titles itself "Roman". The last remnant of the Empire. smile

So if it is good enough for the Church of Rome, it is not an appropriate "Romanian" Church? biggrin :p cool :rolleyes:

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Neil

No problem, I plead the 5th on anything I say or do prior to having my morning coffee.

As I'am sure you're aware, some Eastern Catholics who may not yet have their own building, have been allowed to use an RC Church for their Liturgy. The Syro-Malankara Rite have done this in the Chicago area, so it's not without precedent to celebrate Divine Liturgy in an almost totally Latin environment.

God's Paschal Blessings to you and yours.

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Originally posted by Lawrence:
As I'am sure you're aware, some Eastern Catholics who may not yet have their own building, have been allowed to use an RC Church for their Liturgy.

... so it's not without precedent to celebrate Divine Liturgy in an almost totally Latin environment.
Lawrence,

Well do I know that. In the early years of the last century, virtually all of our parishes had their beginnings in western churches, and there are still several situated in them. The thought occurred to me that it might be the case here, but I doubted that they would have devoted so much photo space to a church in which they were just tenanted - and it appears to be a very new church building.

That's ok - I'm over the shock now. And the exquisite beauty of the Pantocrater in the other church has more than made up for it.

Many years,

Neil


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Glory to Jesus Christ !

The interior of the cathedral in the second link is truly exquisite ! One observation I would make is that the iconography - while undeniably some of the most beautiful I've ever seen - is in reality more Art Nouveau than Byzantine in style.

Heavenly nonetheless...

Blessings to All for Pascha !

Sam

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Quote
Originally posted by Irish Melkite:
[ If I were a Latin Catholic, I'd have been proud to be a parishoner there: as a Latin church, it was quite lovely; as a Byzantine church, it was an abomination.[/QB]
Yipes! All Latin churches aren't that bad, yet. I could put up a crucifix and hear liturgy in a Kmart an the aesthetics would be better.

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XB!

Quote
Originally posted by Irish Melkite:
---snip snip snip---
there are 2 crosses inlaid on the floor of the solea, the one on the facing left looks to be three-barred.
CROSSES ON THE FLOOR?!?!?!?!?!

Where they may be stepped on?

*throws hands up in horror*

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Paisano (Mexican) Thank you for sharing these sites, the second one in fact is awesome. I thought Porta Coeli (the parish I go) was very Latin, but ok, think I was wrong, I hope to send some pics some day soon. I have a question, why do many Eastern Churches do not have an Iconostasis? I know some Eastern churches are located in old Latin Churches, but I wonder if there is any prohibition to put an iconostasis or anything.

Christ has risen!!!!!!!
Cristo ha resucitado, en verdad ha resucitado!

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Originally posted by Lawrence:
Neil

a crucifix cannot be an abomination.
I normally would agree, but the cross at the church where Sen. Kerry went to Easter services gets about as close as I've seen:
http://www.paulist.org/boston/images/chapeltour/cross.jpg
It is a mockery of a crucifix. Check out especially the shadow-play in the background--it looks downright sinister.

mad eek confused mad

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Jbosl

I wouldn't even consider that a crucifix to begin with. In the town I live in, the nearest RC Church has twisted hunks of metal on the wall that are suppose to be representations of Jesus and the Blessed Mother, but I'd no more pray before them then I would the giant heads on Easter Island. If these people ever wisen up they'll unceremoniously toss these monstrosities into the nearest dumpster, and replace them with beautiful statues (in the case of RC's) that are readily available.

P.S. That bent cross the Pope carries doesn't exactly inspire devotion either.

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Just to cheer you up I have asked Admin to post a photo I took on Sunday morning before our 9.30am Mass .

To me this is a beautiful RC Church -my only sorrow is that we do not normally use any incense- and though it was used at the Easter Vigil [ I saw the Thurifer gently swinging the Censor ] I never actually smelt it frown

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