Pilgrimage and Sacred Space

Christian sacred spaces

• Meeting/worship spaces– Synagogues (until 70-135 CE)– House churches (1st-3rd centuries)– Basilicas devoted as churches

• Architectural style• Originally used as “town halls”• Became a religious type of architecture

• Tombs of martyrs• Sites in Holy Land

Constantine

• Turning point in Christianity• “Converts” ca. 313

– Vision of cross in battle– Baptized near death

• Legalized practice of Christianity– Devoted resources to building projects– Used authority to promote doctrinal councils

• Mother Helena led “reclamation” of Holy Land sites

4th century churches

• Strategy: build on top of pagan shrines– Symbol of Christian replacement of paganism– Convert old religious practices to new ones

• Example: Christmas on Dec 25• Keep old piety but Christianize it

• New legal status = new needs and resources ($)• Dominant style: basilica (secular hall)

– Entrance = “narthex”– Long main hall = “nave”– 2 side aisles– Apse

St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome

St. John Lateran, Rome (cathedral church)

Baptistery of St. John Lateran, Rome

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome (4th c. architecture, later decoration)

Pilgrimage to Holy Land

• Motive: connect with biblical sites, esp. those connected with Jesus

• Intertwined with liturgy– Scripture readings– Eucharist

• Open to women and men

• Some sites are dubious – Jesus wrote letter to King Agbar????