web of religion (26)

i'm back at the same turner orthodox church trying to take a photo of the lovely eastern europe rooftop. but none of the angles are working out because the trees are in the wrong places and the fence stops me from getting closer, and it's then i notice the spider in the web in the fence showing the church in the background, and it's so symbolical of how people get caught up in the beliefs framework that religious institutions offer them, something they are attracted to or fly into unknowingly and don't realise the trap until it's too late....

purity of mosaics (23)

continuing the religion theme, this is one of the pretty mosaics in the outside wall of the ukraine orthodox centre in canberra. i'm not sure who this dude is. some fundamentalist bible warrior no doubt. i have seen the top of the rooftop of this church from the bikepath many times. today i did a detour through turner to see it up close. it is actually very pretty - stark white walls, with colourful mosaics inset, and a distinctly eastern european bulbous rooftop. i did take a photo of the rooftop with a massive cross in the foreground and while i like the photo composition, on reflection i decided it's a bit too churchy for me to bring myself to make it a daily photo. today anyway :)

creepy religious stories abound

i don't remember the name of this dark gothic cathedral in the streets behind the old town square in prague, however the recollection of the horror at having a shriveled old human hand which was proudly pointed out, by our walking tour guide, hanging on a chain from the ceiling as evidence of a religious miracle is still crystal clear in my mind. allegedly it is the hand of a thief who came to steal a statue from the church and the statue came to life (the religious miracle) and grabbed hold of the thief's wrist - so he cut off his hand to make an escape. creepy.

perhaps i just like the quiet

the irony is not lost on me at all that despite harbouring a well-developed suspicion and deep loathing of religion, that i do love the architecture of churches and am fascinated in their history. please don't mistake fascination for admiration - i am also fascinated by world war II history. this photo is taken of the inside of st stephen's cathedral in vienna. amazing catacombs lie beneath, entombing the skeletons of thousands of plague victims. the stuff of horror movies.