Bone Church of Rome: Amazing Vintage Photos Show Inside Rome’s Capuchin Crypt From the Late 19th Century
Popularly known as the Capuchin Crypt, the ossuary displays the bones of over 3,700 Capuchin friars, who died between 1528 and 1870. It is ornately decorated with skulls and bones displayed in the Baroque and Rococo styles, with a skeleton dressed as ‘Death’ standing in a niche. Continue reading »
One Nail – One Death: Monument to the German Victims of COVID-19 in Münster
In the cathedral in Schwäbisch Gmünd, a work of art made of thousands of nails commemorates those who died in the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading »
“Eighth Wonder Of The World”: The Sacred Orthodox Rock Church Of Saint George In Lalibela, Ethiopia
The Church of Saint George was carved downwards from a type of volcanic tuff. This is the sole architectural material that was used in the structure. It has been dated to the late 12th or early 13th century AD, and thought to have been constructed during the reign of King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela, of the late Zagwe dynasty. Continue reading »
Wholesome Signs By The Clackamas United Church Of Christ
Many people dread going to church – some think it’s boring, others don’t like listening to the same old sermons while another part just hates waking up early on Sundays. However, that is not always the case – just ask Pastor Adam from the Clackamas United Church of Christ. The pastor invites people of all races, religions and sexual orientations to his church and is actively spreading the message that God loves everyone through his wholesome church signs. Continue reading »
“What If Orthodox Priests Became Cosmonauts?”: Artist Unites Two Russian Pillars In His Paintings
Russian digital painter Vladimir Malakhovsky has created a series of bold canvases. He’s combined two subjects, both of which are very important in Russia: Space exploration vs the Orthodox church. Continue reading »
20 Genius Church Signs That Will Make You Laugh And Think
While churches in Europe may be world-famous for their historical value and architecture, the ones in America are known for their notoriously funny and clever church signs.
Much like a store might write up a cheeky message on their sidewalk A-frame to entice people walking by to come inside, churches use humorous marquees to try and draw potential faithful in to fill their pews – or, now and then, just to put a smile on someone’s face who might need it. The trendier the joke, the more likely they are to appeal to young audiences. Continue reading »
Nike Transforms West Side Church In Chicago Into Basketball Facility
A former church has gotten a new lease on life – as a basketball facility. The Church of the Epiphany in the 200 block of South Ashland Avenue was built in 1855, but closed and desanctified in 2011 because of dwindling membership. Earlier in 2018, Nike took over the building and turned it into a world-class basketball facility. Continue reading »
A 100+ Year Old Tree Growing Inside A Church In Greece
This amazing church is located at Samarina, Greece, built in 1812. It is devoted to Virgin Mary and every year on the 15th of August a great celebration takes place in the village gathering visitors from all over the country. Continue reading »
The International Church Of Cannabis Has Arrived In Denver
For more than a century, it blended in, until bright colors bled from the walls and windows of a 113-year-old church in Denver. Now, the building near Wash Park is home to the Church of Cannabis, according to 9News. On 4/20, the International Church of Cannabis will open its doors at 400 S. Logan Street. Elevation Ministries, a Colorado non-profit religious organization, now calls the church home. Continue reading »
The Hofskirkja Church – The Only Church Left With A Grass Rooftop
Photo by CISSÉO
Rooftop gardens are definitely some of the best relaxation spots that are easily accessible for anybody. When it comes to Iceland, this tradition appeared way back in the 18th century. It was a measure of protection from the difficult climate conditions. However, the Hofskirkja Church is the last grass roof church standing in Iceland. Continue reading »
The Floor Of An Historic Church Transformed Into A Reflective Pool Of Multi-Colored Orbs
Reflecting the architecture of the former St. John’s Church in North Lincolnshire, UK is Liz West‘s site-specific pool of over 700 multi-colored orbs titled “Our Colour Reflection.” These circular mirrors installed onto the floor of the now 20-21 Visual Arts Centre project hues of yellow, purple, red, blue, and 11 other colors onto the beams that surround them, adding a colorful dimension to the 125-year-old building. Continue reading »
Man Dresses Up Every Sunday To Take His Grandmother To Church
By now most of the legends have already been debunked and sorted out. Except maybe for the one of the mysterious Sunday Man from Baltimore, Maryland. Continue reading »
Abandoned Church Transformed With Colorful Graffiti In Morocco
Everything Okuda San Miguel touches turns to technicolor. You might remember him from the wild church-turned-skate-park we wrote about last year. Well, Okuda San Miguel is back, and this time he’s set his sights on a new building: an abandoned church in Youssoufia, Morocco. Continue reading »
100-Year-Old Church Given New Life As Mesmerizing Skate Park With Vibrant Murals
Okuda San Miguel (aka Okudart) has transformed a historic church in Llanera, Spain into a colorful haven for skateboarders. Created in collaboration with La Iglesia Skate park and Red Bull, the artist covered the interior sanctuary in vibrant colors and patterns that match the intensity of the sport. Continue reading »
400-Year-Old Colonial Church Emerges From Mexican Reservoir as Water Levels Drop
AP
As water levels dropped from a Mexican reservoir, something rather surprising occurred. A 400-year-old colonial church emerged, as if it was a ghost attempting to come back to life. A drought this year hit the watershed of the Grijalva river, dropping the water level in the Nezahualcoyotl reservoir by a whopping 82 feet. Continue reading »
Yup, We’ve Found The Most Terrifying Church In The World
Here’s another excuse not to go to church! St. George’s church in the Czech Republic fell into disrepair in the 1960s after the cave fell in during a funeral. Taking that as a bad omen, locals abandoned the 14th-century-old church and held services outside rather than stepping foot inside the church. That is until artist Jakub Hadrava got involved. Continue reading »
Stunning See-through Church Is Made From Stacked Weathered Steel
Belgian architects Pieterjan Gijs and Arnout Van Vaerenbergh of the Gijs Van Vaerenbergh studio designed the thought-provoking project, called ’Reading Between the Lines,’ for Art Museum Z33’s Z-OUT ‘art in the public space’ program. The 10-meter-tall church was built from 100 layers of stacked weathered steel and 2,000 columns of metal. Continue reading »
An Abandoned Indonesian Church Shaped Like a Massive Clucking Chicken
Image credit: uzone.id
Towering above the trees in a densely forested area of Indonesia lies a giant chicken. The gigantic structure has the body, tail, and head of the bird, even holding open its beak in what appears to be mid-squawk. Although the very old bird is quickly decaying, Gereja Ayam (as the locals call it) attracts hundreds of photographers and travelers to its location in Magelang, Central Java each year who are looking to explore the bird’s bizarre interior. Continue reading »
Man Spends Four Years Growing a Serene Church Made of Trees
While traveling the world, Barry Cox fell in love with architecture, particularly the design and construction of churches. This fascination inspired him to design a cathedral of his own, except he decided to compose the house of worship entirely out of lush trees. To make this dream a reality, Cox dedicated four years of his life to growing this rare church in his backyard in New Zealand. Continue reading »
Tiny Church On A Tiny Island In Russia Gets More And More Beautiful Each Season
Image credits: Anatoli Sokolov
Apparently, if you really want to build a church, a hundred-square-meter island is enough. Designed by Andrey Rotinov (and thus named after his namesake apostle Andrey Pervozvanniy), this beautiful house of god was completed and consecrated in 2000. Continue reading »
The Image of an Orthodox Church in a Modern Architectural Solution
Some time ago, The Union of Architects of Russia and Union of Philanthropy Organizations of Russia have announced a competition called “The Image of an Orthodox Church in a Modern Architectural Solution”. The competition will conclude with the selection of the 10 best architectural projects, which wil be put on display at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, RIA Novosti reports.
“First of all the projects should be focused not on stylizing cathedral architecture of past eras but rather on expressing in the image of the cathedral traditional features alongside modern aesthetics,” the organizers note.
The jury and expert council include representatives of the architecture community and the Russian Orthodox Church as well as historians of church architecture.
Take a look at some fantastic examples below! Continue reading »
Modern Church in Linz, Austria
Amazing modern church in Linz, Austria, created by X Architecten, the architecture company from Wien. Continue reading »
Placing Modern Figures in an Ancient Church
Sean Henry‘s sculpture Man with Cup (2008) is exhibited on the West Front of Salisbury Cathedral on August 2, 2011 in Salisbury, United Kingdom. The exhibition, ‘Conflux: A Union of the Sacred and the Anonymous’, features over 20 contemporary sculptures of dramatically different scales occupying vacant plinths and open spaces on both the inside and exterior of the iconic 13th century building. This exhibition brings to the Cathedral the biggest single group of polychrome sculpture since the Reformation and runs until the end of October. (Matt Cardy / Getty Images) Continue reading »
