www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Beauty of G-d's House

Diak
I had to go to the Lemko site to understand what you meant! Well, I guess since our parish is Ruthenian, then it is definitely Lemko. We are very proud of our little church. We are a real mish-mash of ethnicities, though. I actually come from a French-Canadian background, grew up Roman, but have transferred rites to Ruthenian since attending Epiphany BC. Our priest grew up Episcopalian. etc. etc.

The weird thing is, although I've only been in one Byzantine church my whole life, I've been in three Orthodox churches. One, the Greek cathedral in Atlanta. Then, when in Alaska (I had to go all the way to Alaska!) we went into a tiny, tiny Russian OC in Juneau. I tried to find a web-site on it but couldn't. It is an octagonal shape, no more than 45 feet by 45 feet, if that; maybe only 35 feet by 35 feet. Icons everywhere. But very beautiful. (St Nicholas)
Then, I think the Archangel Michael Russian OC in Sitka, Alaska. THis was larger, considered their cathedral. Also icons up everywhere.

My husband has a way of bribing me to go on trips by promising me a visit to some church or other. He knows my soft spot. He got me to New York by promising we'd go to Mass at St Patrick's!

When I told him about the beautiful St Elias in Toronto, he said he'd take me there if we went up to Canada.
denise

My votes (in no particular order) are for:

* Sts V&O UGCC in Chicago (but the pews gotta go!)
* St Sergius of Radonezh ROC in Seven Hills, Ohio (just the interior)
* St Michael "Zolotoverkhyi" UOC-KP in Kyiv.

Andrij

I like St. Michael the Archangel's UCC in Baltimore, Maryland. I am no Eastern church architectural expert, but isn't that considered Baroque style?

ChristTeen287

Certainly, among my choices of lovely Eastern Churches would be

The Cathedral of the Holy Virgin-Joy of All who Sorrow- San Francisco, Ca

The Cathedral of St Seraphim of Sarov in Dallas, TX

and closer to home:

Church of the Holy Protection-Santa Rosa, Calif

Annunciation Cathedral of the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton.

In particular, I am awed by the fresco in the Holy Place. It depicts Our Lady of the Sign.

God's house is beautiful!!

Paul

Now I'm going to join a travel club to visit all these beautiful churches

Paul

St's Volodymyr and Olha is the most beautiful Eastern Rite Church I've ever been in. Some years ago I met a parishioner, and I told him I had photographed numerous churches around Chicago, I mentioned I had taken pictures inside St Nicholas (Ukrainian Rite)and that I thought it was quite impressive, when he told me that SVO was even more beautiful, I had a hard time believing him, mainly because it was built around 1970. When I saw the interior on Good Friday for the first time, it was breathtaking, it seemed like a sea of icons, and it gave me that feeling I only get in the most beautiful Latin Rite Churches, "I just wanna stay here and never leave".

Nativity BVM in Chicago's Back of the Yards area (now moved to Palos Park) was also impressive.

Is the liturgy at V&O in Slavonic or Ukrainian?

Andrew

Ukrainian. Incidentally, they have both good congregational chanting and excellent choirs (note the plural).

Fr. Serge

Andrew

Saints Volodymyr and Olha only does Ukrainian liturgies, but St Nicholas, almost a stones throw away, does one in English on Sunday. I was at SS V&O last year for week day liturgy during Lent, and even with my understanding half a dozen words in Ukrainian, it was still incredible. I think I need to visit there more than once a year.

I always wanted to visit there, but never got the chance. I did attend liturgy at St. Nicholas and St. Joseph's. Actually my vote for prettiest church is near the village, namely Holy Trinity Cathedral.

My favorite RC on the inside was St. Alphonsus, though it had unfortunately the requisite tackiness that seems to be such a fixture in so many RC churches.

Andrew

Saints Volodymyr and Olha used to have a website with many photos. Sadly, it has been offline for several years.

Manoli

Andrew

You don't mean St Alphonsus on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago do you ? I don't want to come off sounding like an architectural snob, since that's what I am, but I can recommend some much more impressive Latin churches in Chicago than St Alphonsus.

At least your honest!

What are your favorites, I might have visited some.

I was speaking of the same St. Alphonsus. I seem to remember it had some really good rib vaulting.

Andrew

Here Andrew, here's a good start for you.


15 Best Latin Rite Churches In Chicago in no particular order.

Holy Cross (Back of the Yards)
St Joseph (Back of the Yards)
St Mary of Perpetual Help (Bridgeport)
St Mary of the Angels (Bucktown)
St Michael (Old Town)
St John Cantius (West Town)
St Hedwig (Bucktown)
Holy Family (Near West Side)
St Adalbert (Pilsen)
St Barbara (Bridgeport)
St Gabriel (Canaryville)
St Michael the Archangel (South Chicago)
Holy Trinity (Polonia)
St Hyacinth (Avondale)
Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica (East Garfield Park)

All definitely worth a visit, and I've photographed them extensively.