Christ The Saviour Orthodox Church is in Chinatown, and was my first stop during Doors Open. The church has its roots in two congregations, the oldest one dating back nearly a century with its roots from immigrants out of the old Hapsburg empire. The current church building was constructed here in 1968, and a neighbouring building, a former fire hall dating back to 1913, now serves as the church hall. Some of the iconography from the older church resides in the church hall, as seen in the final photo. The sanctuary itself is very different from churches that I'm used to, filled with iconography, which is typical of the Orthodox branch of Christianity. The priest was on hand when I got in, and mentioned that while services are in English, the worshipers come from several language backgrounds, so he recites things like the Lord's Prayer in those languages during a service.
Fascinating! I love all the architectural details!
ReplyDeleteThere are some beautiful icons here. I'm guessing that it began life as Russian orthodox?
ReplyDeleteThe church building looks very different from the typical church building. Have a happy day!
ReplyDeleteI always like the Russian or is it Greek influence in the Orthodox churches. Beautiful paintings.
ReplyDeleteMB
Very impressive!
ReplyDeleteFascinating, the outdoor of this Church is unique.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful inside, thanks, William !
Beautiful details but as you say quite different, more icon heavy than most Protestant churches I've seen also.
ReplyDeletenow that is awesome. love the ceiling best-est!! love this series. i am a fan. ( :
ReplyDelete@Linda: I do too.
ReplyDelete@Kay: the roots of this church are from the eastern European churches as opposed to the Russian, but there are influences.
@Nancy: as I understand it this is based on the Temple concept.
@MB: there is some of both.
@Marleen: it is!
@Karl: you're welcome.
@Grace: iconography is something we don't see in Protestant churches, but the Orthodox churches broke with Rome centuries before the Reformation.
@Beth: thanks!
The interior makes me think of the Greek Orthodox Church here.
ReplyDeleteThanks William. It is always a visual pleasure to step inside an Orthodox church.
ReplyDeleteCeilings beautifully done.
ReplyDeleteYou captured some very colorful details.
ReplyDeleteThat is very different. They have a lot of art in the church. I've never heard of this denomination before.
ReplyDeleteSpecial coloured church.
ReplyDelete@Norma: I expect the various Eastern churches have many common influences.
ReplyDelete@Dina: it certainly is. In the West we tend to overlook the Orthodox churches- perhaps because there are fewer of them compared to the Protestant and Catholic branches of Christianity.
@Carolann: it is quite a beautiful sanctuary.
@Sharon: thanks!
@Red: Orthodox churches do tend to be relatively rare- though there is another one close to here, and I can think of at least one more in the city. I expect in Alberta it would depend on if there's a large community of immigrants from places like Romania or the Ukraine, for instance. Then you'd find one.
@Marianne: it certainly is.
That is a very different looking structure. And an Orthodox church in Chinatown...another bit of irony. The Orthodox do go in for iconography and that's one of their special features. It's quite beautiful inside and very colorful. Nice set of photos, William!
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful inside!
ReplyDeleteThe church is beautiful. The architecture is very impressive along with the inside.
ReplyDeletereally neat.
ReplyDeleteHi William. Thanx for your comment on Cedar Key. I guess I should have mentioned that older homes are exempt from the 12 foot above sea level requirement. And sometimes those are the ones that get washed away!
ReplyDeleteYou got wonderful photos of this beautiful church.
ReplyDelete@Lowell: and by the time the church was built, Chinatown had been established for decades!
ReplyDelete@RedPat: it really is.
@Bill: they did well with this.
@Tex: I agree!
@Lowell: ah, that explains it!
@Denise: thanks!
Beautiful, but you are right. Modern churches do not have that beauty any longer. The congregation couldn't afford the artist.
ReplyDeleteUnexpected interior scenes.
ReplyDeleteOrthodox churches are always so interesting. That exterior is about the most mod I've seen!
ReplyDeleteJanis
GDP
Great architecture and it holds wonderful decorations.
ReplyDeleteGreat tour! I guess the cupoulla lighted with the sun is an Orthodox element, cause the Orthodox church i posted weeks ago has the same
ReplyDeleteVery interesting-looking church.
ReplyDelete@Mari: this one was beautifully built.
ReplyDelete@Revrunner: definitely.
@Janis: very much so.
@Jan: it does, yes.
@Cloudia: it is.
@Orvokki: I think so.