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Saturday 28 June 2014

Facts About Staten Island Church

By Elsa English


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.

Churches are often admired for their sublime appearances and beautiful craftsmanship. Most of them are even considered tourist attractions that are really visited by millions, even though some of them are not even Christians. They are as timeless as the religion they are representing. They have survived significant events in human history yet they have preserved that aura of grandeur they were originally built with.

Most people think that a church is just that, a building where sermons or masses are heard. In reality, they serve different functions. They can be cathedrals, abbey churches, and basilicas, or they can be none of these, as with the case of the greatest Protestant churches.

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.

They served so many functions for people back then. The abbey often served as a refuge for the locals. Abbeys turned into parish churches at the end of a monastic era.

Of course, the appearance of the church does not affect its purpose. Whether big or small, humble or intricate, they are still very special places for the faithful. This is where the religious give thanks and worship the Maker they firmly believe in.




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