Last Saturday I was very pleased to be introduced to what – to my eye – appeared to be one of the most impressive examples of religious architecture in Los Angeles.
St. John’s Episcopal Church is a mix of Romanesque style and Byzantine elements (which can easily recall Ravenna’s mosaics). The richness of the decorations inside the structure was a great source of inspiration for me, starting from the magnificent red-tinted cross floating above the altar, to the lateral golden chapel portraying a Medieval Virgin Mary.
Interior of the church, overall view
Anglican-Armenian Solemn Vespers Service, in a haze of incense
Archbishop Derderian (foreground) and Bishop Bruno incense the cross
Lighting of the candles at the beginning of the ceremony
I couldn’t have been more intrigued by all the “games of light” that take place in the church: they certainly contribute to creating a very mystical atmosphere that ranges from very dark corners to extremely lit wall sections. These variations are very visible in some images I will later post on this blog.
Bishop Jon Bruno preaches to the assembly
December 4th, 2008 at 2:32 am
This reminds me of a visit to the Gothic Basillica Cathedral in Barcelona where construction started in built in 1298. Again the way the light shines through the incense is even more dramatic, go there if you ever get the oppotunity.