Churches are more than places of prayer and worship, here in Italy as indeed many other countries of the world they are places of pilgrimage where one can come to pray or merely to admire and marvel at the art nestled away inside them.
Here in Molise there are surprises tucked away in everyone, some simplly adorned and others rich in frescos and tapestries but all an absolute delight.
Even you are not religious I am sure you will find yourself marvelling at the astonishingly, magnificent art which lays within them across the world.
So where did it all begin?
http://www.garvandwane.com/religion/religion1.html#beginning
Not wanting to plagiarise other people's work I am going to leave you to read this in full, but principally as far as we are aware the origins of RELIGION can be traced back to around 50,000 years ago.
RELIGION is universal, a trait common to the human race traversing time and culture. Sadly, however, it has been the route of the majority of our battles and squabbles over time alongside the fundamental human desire of envy.
Religion developed alongside our art, music and all other aspects of our cultures. There is some suggestion that Religion developed alongside agricultural. Was there perhaps a desire to explain events that impacted on the crops we grew? The weather perhaps, or even disease?
We are not entirely sure, as there is some evidence that the roots of religion can be traced back to Paleothiclic cave art, where there are indications in cave paintings of spirit beings.
Leaving this debate aside the topic of this blog is a brief introduction to some of the beautiful Churhes here in Molise.
My travels around Molise have only just begun, with one hundred and thirty eight villages. There is an abundance of churches, chapels and catherdrals across the region. They range from hugely ornate churches adorned with frescoes and statutes to simple buildings with cavernous wooden roofs.
Most villages have at least three churches, a Mother Church, and chapels which are often on the outskirts, sometimes tucked away in the countryside.
I began my travels in Cantalupo del Sannio, having read a book of photographs telling the story of the women in the village, published by FRANK MONACO in 1953.
Crosses on hillsides, and in Piazzas across the region
Ceilings reaching the heavens
Glided crosses
Beautiful windows, simple and complex
Now three months down the line I have seen over thirty stunning churhes which have lifted my heart and my spirits.
Whether you are interested merely in the art, archaelogy, or architecture, or want to explore the churches here to explore your faith here in Molise once again from there is a chapel and a church waiting here for you.
When I discovered the little chapel of Santa Guista just a few miles from where I live in July last year I wept, moved so profoundly by the peace, quiet and simple solitude
Pietracuppa in this video I took there is too so moving... Let me know how you feel when you see it...
https://vimeo.com/216061263
Here in Molise there are surprises tucked away in everyone, some simplly adorned and others rich in frescos and tapestries but all an absolute delight.
Even you are not religious I am sure you will find yourself marvelling at the astonishingly, magnificent art which lays within them across the world.
So where did it all begin?
http://www.garvandwane.com/religion/religion1.html#beginning
Not wanting to plagiarise other people's work I am going to leave you to read this in full, but principally as far as we are aware the origins of RELIGION can be traced back to around 50,000 years ago.
RELIGION is universal, a trait common to the human race traversing time and culture. Sadly, however, it has been the route of the majority of our battles and squabbles over time alongside the fundamental human desire of envy.
Religion developed alongside our art, music and all other aspects of our cultures. There is some suggestion that Religion developed alongside agricultural. Was there perhaps a desire to explain events that impacted on the crops we grew? The weather perhaps, or even disease?
We are not entirely sure, as there is some evidence that the roots of religion can be traced back to Paleothiclic cave art, where there are indications in cave paintings of spirit beings.
Leaving this debate aside the topic of this blog is a brief introduction to some of the beautiful Churhes here in Molise.
My travels around Molise have only just begun, with one hundred and thirty eight villages. There is an abundance of churches, chapels and catherdrals across the region. They range from hugely ornate churches adorned with frescoes and statutes to simple buildings with cavernous wooden roofs.
Most villages have at least three churches, a Mother Church, and chapels which are often on the outskirts, sometimes tucked away in the countryside.
I began my travels in Cantalupo del Sannio, having read a book of photographs telling the story of the women in the village, published by FRANK MONACO in 1953.
Doorways of Significance!
Soft gentle hues
Angels on the ceiling
Reach for the stars
Beautiful windows, simple and complex
Chapels and churches in the rock and on mountain top
Now three months down the line I have seen over thirty stunning churhes which have lifted my heart and my spirits.
Whether you are interested merely in the art, archaelogy, or architecture, or want to explore the churches here to explore your faith here in Molise once again from there is a chapel and a church waiting here for you.
When I discovered the little chapel of Santa Guista just a few miles from where I live in July last year I wept, moved so profoundly by the peace, quiet and simple solitude
Pietracuppa in this video I took there is too so moving... Let me know how you feel when you see it...
https://vimeo.com/216061263
