ivysreformation

[ivysreformation]

St. Peter’s Basilica

Rome, Italy

i. I chose to write about this basilica because of how interesting its history is. It interested me that it was literally built on top of St. Peter’s grave, that it was partially made from particles that were stolen from other churches, and also that it is apparently the biggest church in the world and has the largest dome in the world on top of it. There is so much about this basilica that I love, the history, the glory, the art; the whole thing is most definitely a masterpiece. 

ii. This basilica took over a century to build and it remained standing through war, the reformation, and corruption of other kinds. The primary source of income for the price of the basilica came from indulgences, through the catholic church. This was very looked-down upon by reformers such as Martin Luther. Although it is a sad thing that indulgences were so widely used in the Roman Catholic Church, it is a beautiful thing to think about what positivity came to fruition despite the negative actions. So many Christians can come and appreciate the beauty of the basilica and can take time to worship in a building that helps people appreciate the grandeur of God’s glory.

iii. I find it very interesting that this basilica is apparently the largest church in the world. That just goes to show how grand Rome wanted to be. They wanted to be the biggest. They wanted to be the best. And they were. They worked at it; and it came to be. They definitely were amazing at building and did not let that talent go to waste. Hence, leaving the rest of the world such beautiful churches to enjoy and admire.

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Basilica Of St. John Lateran

Rome, Italy

i. I chose to feature this location because of how grand it it, making the in-person visit very enjoyable and breath-taking. Our group was fortunate enough to get to experience Sunday mass in this basilica, which was an absolutely amazing experience; one that definitely helped me to gain a new appreciation for the Catholic Church and some of it’s practices. Having been studying about the Roman Catholic Church for this entire semester, it’s very special when I get to enjoy an experience relate the Catholic Church and the reformation. It’s surreal getting to physically experience the things I’ve been studying.

ii. This basilica is one of the four that are located in Rome, and some say that it is the most important of the four. It is named after John the Baptist, the cousin of the Christ. Apparently, in the early fourth century, a family called the Laterani family was stripped of some of their land, because one family member was accused of going against the emperor. This land was then offered to the Roman Bishop, who used it for the first Roman basilica, as seen above.

iii. I was most shocked at the grandeur of this basilica. Being able to see it in person was an amazing reminder that the architects who built these beautiful buildings were always building up. They were building to glory God. The high priest. Even though some of the actions of the Roman Catholic Church were questionable, it’s so evident that they were determined to glorify God with all their resources, including their buildings.

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Wesminster Abbey

London, England 

i. I chose to feature this historical site in my project because of how much I enjoyed my trip to London. In such a bustling city, I feel as though the rich history of London doesn’t get as much attention as all of the fun touristy sites. Because of this reason, I wanted to get the chance to sit down and learn more about the religious history of the grand city. 

ii. This particular abbey has been the setting for every coronation since 1066 and also several royal weddings. When it was first created, it was a cathedral with a seat for a high priest. But when King Henry VIII pushed the catholics out, the church was named a “Church of England.” Edward “The Confessor,” who lived nearby, commissioned the construction of the new Abbey in 1040.

iii. I was most surprised about how much of a cultural site this abbey is now. While it has always been important to the city of London, it is now a strong piece of the London culture and is used for many traditions, such as carnations. It was very interesting to learn that several royal wedding shave taken place here as well. As a young girl, I was able to watch Kate and William’s royal wedding live, so it was beyond special to see the church where their wedding had taken place.

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Beguinage Of Bruges

Bruges, Belgium

i. I chose this location because of how meaningful it was to me. The story behind the origin is so very fascinating to me and on top of that, it was an extremely beautiful place to visit. 

ii. These Beguinages were architectural areas that were dedicated to unemployed, unmarried, lay women. Women came to live in these places because their husbands oftentimes died in war, but also, they would come to reside here because these were some of the only communities that offered working positions to women who weren’t married at all. These communities gave them a sort of freedom and refuge, but without them having to make any sort of vow or pledge. 

iii. The whole idea and intent behind these quaint communities was what surprised me the most. I was pleasantly surprised that communities like these even existed. It is so true, even to this very day, that it is harder for single women to make a living and to live a “suitable” life. The fact that a “safe haven” of sorts existed centuries ago for women who were vulnerable in society, is impressive to me. 

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Aachen Cathedral

Aachen, Germany

i. I chose this place because it was the first location we visited as a group; so therefore, a pretty special memory. It was just after visiting this cathedral, that I realised how much I love visiting the churches of each city we travel to. 

ii. This cathedral was built under the order of Charlemagne, and is the principle church of the diocese of Aachen. It was a primary place for the coronation of Holy Roman Emperors and German kings. The city of Aachen grew in popularity partially due to the fact that Charlemagne favoured it above other cities to reside and rule in.

iii. One thing that really surprised me about this particular location was the quaint herb garden that was just outside this grand church. Apparently, Charlemagne had it planted so that the locals in Aachen could come freely to gather any herbs they needed.