Coinciding with my love of ancient liturgy, I also love old churches. In fact, a bit of "Tim Trivia", I used to want to buy an old abandoned church, renovate it and live there.
I was reading the coolblog yesterday when I saw this picture of an old abandoned church, which led me to a google image search. I wish that we still built churches like this. I've decided that our ugliest churches are little more than hate crimes, Immaculate Heart of Mary is our local criminal parish. It was built in a very "Modern"(for the times) style and has since been nick-named "Our Lady of Leftist Leanings". That was the site f my "Multi-cultural mass experience" conducted in three languages, leaving everyone confused.
Fortunately there are dozens of churches in the area built with an eye towards worshipful archetecture. I am not forsaken.
During my google search, Jenn and I both marveled at the abandoned Russian Orthodox Churches. They are unmistakable in a good way. They are physical buildings that act as embassies for the Kingdom of Heaven, here on earth. And as civilization retreats, they become emptied, again and again. The church used to cut across cultural lines, now Starbucks owns more property in Manhattan than the Catholic Church. I suspect that it is no different off the island as well.
Not to fear, as society decays in on itself yet again, the Church rediscovers it's monastic identity, becoming once more a time capsule of civilization.
This is why I love abandoned churches. Abandoned Churches, like ancient liturgy speaks from the past, even in this very moment. Though fallen into neglect, one day they will be filled again, even if it takes a Francis to fill them.
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