1. Santa Luca Alla Badia Church

Santa Luca Alla Badia Church
Siracusa, Sicily, Italy

The church of Santa Lucia alla Badia is a church in Syracuse , located in Piazza Duomo and dedicated to the patron saint of Syracuse.

Originally the site of a monastery of the XV century , was completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1693 , and the reconstruction is due to the Mother Superior of the Sisters Cistercians between 1695 and 1703 , the architect Luciano Caracciolo directed the work and from which the project has also arisen.

Church Front Entrance

"The façade , previously on the narrow Via Picherali that leads to the Aretusa spring , and now facing the square, has two overlapping orders separated by the trabeation with a balcony fitted with a wrought iron railing.

"The lower order is characterized by the presence of the baroque portal in the center, framed by spiral columns that support the pediment decorated with symbols of the martyrdom of the Saint, on whose sides there are Spanish royal coats of arms. Pseudo- Ionian style pilasters , are part of the lower order of the façade

"In the higher order, there are still more slender, pseudo- Corinthian pilasters , inspired by the Rococo style .

The façade reaches a total height of about 25 m. On the top there is a jagged girdle with putti heads and the cross, currently removed as being unsafe.

"The interior has a single nave decorated by four Baroque altars of 1705 , in the vault are the frescoes of 1783 representing the Triumph of Saint Lucia . The presbytery has a dome roof on the top of the temple.

"In the apse, behind the high altar , there is the large painting of the "Burial of Saint Lucia" painted in 1608 by Caravaggio , in his Syracusan residence; the painting, originally on the altar of the church of Santa Lucia al Sepolcro , after a series of important restorations, was first exhibited at the Palazzo Bellomo gallery , before being placed in the church of Santa Lucia alla Badia.

Artist	Caravaggio
Year	1608

                               (Link 1.)

"Burial of Saint Lucy is a painting by the Italian artist Caravaggio. It is located in the church of Santa Lucia alla Badia located on the Piazza Duomo in Syracuse, Sicily." (Link 2.)

Artist of "Burial of St. Lucy"

"According to The Golden Legend, Saint Lucy had bestowed her wealth on the poor, in gratitude for the miraculous healing of her mother. Denounced as a Christian, she refused to recant, offered her chastity to Christ, and was sentenced to be dragged to a brothel. Miraculously, nothing could move her from the spot where she stood. She was pierced by a knife in the throat and, where she fell, the church of Santa Lucia al Sepolcro in Syracuse was built. " (Link 1.)

**********

Photos: Taken in October 2018 by RW  while travelling to Italy.  
Link 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burial_of_St._Lucy_(Caravaggio)
Link 2: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiesa_di_Santa_Lucia_alla_Badia

                                                          

                                                                        Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

Chiesa San Cristoforo

Chiesa San Cristoforo
Catania, Sicily, Italy

Church Sign

"It was raised in the Middle Ages in 1300 and was rebuilt in 1700 following the collapse due to the earthquake of 1693. The upper part of the façade is simple where you can see a central window. The portal instead, is characterized by a frame full of floral elements of Baroque style, above the portal there is the bust of San Cristoforo. The only news we have of this Church is that its shape is rectangular, for many years it is closed to worship. After being closed for about ten years, in June 2015, at the behest of Father Rosario Andrea Lo Bello, the Church of San Cristoforo has been reopened."(Link 1.)

Sanctuary

Sanctuary Altar

Sanctuary Wall Art

Sanctuary Wall Art

*******

Photos: Taken in October 2018 by RW  while travelling to Italy.  
Link 1: https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://www.ortigia.it/contenuti/chiese/381-chiesa-di-san-cristofo

                                                          

                                                                        Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

Sant'Agata Cathedral

Sant'Agata Cathedral

Catania, Sicily, Italy

Cathedral Sign  with Description and Diagrams

Sant'Agata at Night

Sant'Agata at Night

"No visit to Catania is complete without seeing the cathedral dedicated to the city's patron saint, Sant'Agata. The virgin-martyr was killed in 351 for refusing the lecherous advances of a Roman lord. Her mortal remains are in reliquaries in the cathedral.

Plazza del Duomo Elephant Statue

"The frosted facade is a cake-like beauty that sets off the Piazza del Duomo, studded with icing-like statues, balustrades and adornments along the roofline. It is a lovely cathedral, though the current version dates to mid-1700s. The first church was built here in the Norman era, between 1086 and 1094. It was expanded and adorned over the years, and the Benedictine monastery was added next door. The church utilized some columns, friezes and capitals recycled from ancient Roman ruins. Then the 1693 earthquake dismantled many parts of the original structure, including the bell tower, which fell and demolished some of the church below it. The cathedral was rebuilt, giving it the style you see today, while retaining the portions of the Norman structure that had been left intact, most notably the apse. The interior is a soaring space, with beautiful elements and artwork, and in impressive pipe organ." (Link 1.)

*******

Photos: Taken in October 2018 by RW  while travelling to Italy.  

                                                           

Link 1: https://www.summerinitaly.com/guide/cathedral-and-badia-of-sant-agata

Link 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_of_Sicily

                                                                         Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

palm springs

CONTENTS

-Blog Header

-Procedure

-Map

-Blog Posts-arranged by City

            Cathedral City

            Indio

            La Quinta

            Palm Desert

            Palm Springs

-Blog Posts by Denomination

            Catholic

            Church of the Nazarene

            Community

            Episcopal

            Lutheran

            Presbyterian

-Blog Posts arranged by date of Publication

            Palm Desert-Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church, 4/17/11.

            La Quinta-St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 7/10/11.

            Cathedral City-Glory to God Ministries, 10/2/11.

            Cathedral City-St. Louis Catholic Church, 10/9/11.

            Palm Desert-St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, 10/16/11.

            Palm Desert-Peace Lutheran Church of Palm Desert, 10/23/11.

            Palm Springs-Palm Springs Baptist Church, 11/13/11.

            Indio-Trinity Lutheran Church, 4/20/14.

            Indio-St. John's Episcopal Church, 4/27/14.

            Palm Desert-St. John's Lutheran Church, 5/4/14.

            Indio-Las Palmas Communityy Church, "A Nazarene Church of

                         Coachella Valley," 5/11/14.

-Business Cards and Addresses

Cover: Peace Lutheran Church of Palm Desert

74200 Country Club Dr 

                                                         Palm Desert, California

Blog Post 10/23/11

       Palm Springs Area Churches

                                      by Denomination



                                               Catholic

Cathedral City-St. Louis Catholic Church,  10/9/11.


La Quinta-St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 7/10/11.






                                                  Church of the Nazarene

Indio-Las Palmas Community Church "A Nazarene Church of the Coachella                    Valley", 5/11/14.


                                                                 Community


Cathedral City-Glory to God Ministries, 10/2/11.




                                                                    Episcopal

Indio-Saint John's Episcopal Church, 4/27/14.

Palm Desert-St. Margaret's Episcopal Church,  10/16/11.





                                                                    Lutheran

Indio-Trinity Lutheran Church, 4/20/14.

Palm Desert-Peace Lutheran Church of Palm Desert, 10/23/11.

Palm Desert-St. John's Lutheran Church, 5/4/14.   

Palm Springs-Palm Springs Baptist Church, 11/13/11.    


                                                               Presbyterian



Palm Desert-Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church, 4/17/11.

                    Palm Springs Area Churches

                                             by City

                                                          Cathedral City

Cathedral City-Glory to God Ministries, 10/2/11.


Cathedral City-St. Louis Catholic Church,  10/9/11.

                                              Indio

Indio-Saint John's Episcopal Church, 4/27/14.

Indio-Trinity Lutheran Church, 4/20/14.



Indio-Las Palmas Community Church "A Nazarene Church of the Coachella 


       Valley", 5/11/14.


                                         La Quinta

La Quinta-St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 7/10/11.














                                   Cover: Peace Lutheran Church of Palm Desert

          74200 Country Club Dr., Palm Desert


Blog Post 10/23/11















Telephone: 760-323-8297
221 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Email: pshistoricalsociety@gmail.com



















































































Att:  Renee Brown, Associate Curator

Palm Springs Historical Society

221 South Palm Canyon Drive 

Palm Springs, California 92262

February  17, 2016




Dear Renee,




Enclosed is a copy of the booklet "Palm Springs Area Churches" for donation to the Palm Springs Historical Society.  The booklet is a compilation of blog posts from my blog Churches On Sundays. It includes photos of churches taken in 2011 and 2014 while I was visiting Palm Springs.  Accompanying the photos is some description of the church architecture and history.




Thank you for accepting this booklet for your library.




Suzanne Wilson

939 Shavington St.

North Vancouver, B.C. Canada V7L 1K6

604-988-6283

suzcanada@shaw.ca

Basilica Santuario Madona Delle Lacrime

Basilica Santuario Madona Delle Lacrime

Syracusa, Sicily, Italy

Basilica Santuario Madona Delle Lacrime

"The basilica Madonna delle Lacrime sanctuary is a minor basilica and Marian shrine erected in memory of the miraculous tearing of a plaster effigy depicting the Immaculate Heart of Mary , placed at the bedside of the Iannuso spouses at their humble home in via degli Orti in Syracuse , in 1953 .

In 2002, John Paul II raised the sanctuary to the dignity of a minor basilicawith the name of "basilica sanctuary Madonna delle Lacrime"

Diagram and Description of Church

"According to tradition, the miraculous event was repeated from 29 August to 1 September 1953 in the general emotion of an immense multitude of faithful, in the house of the Iannuso spouses. Collected the tears were subjected to a scientific analysis according to which they would be human tear liquid. The devotion that followed was of enormous proportions. The small effigy of the Madonna delle Lacrime , first provisionally admitted to the nearby Euripide square from 1953 to 1968, was placed inside the sanctuary , in the current crypt and remained there from 1968 to 1994, before being moved inside the upper temple of the Sanctuary.

Sanctuary

Sanctuary Altar

"The work was designed in 1957 by French architects Michel Andrault and Pierre Parat following an international competition announcement but the structural works are by engineer Riccardo Morandi ^[1] . The construction began in 1966: ...

"The construction was completed after about 28 years and the sanctuary was consecrated, inaugurated and dedicated to the Madonna delle Lacrimeon 6 November 1994 by Pope John Paul II ...

Interior  of Sanctuary Spire

"The structure is subject to various interpretations. The architects set out to structurally implement the concept of the elevation of humanity to God . In fact, the plant with its circularity wants to represent humanity that reaches out to God. Other meanings attributed are those of: beacon, identifiable with Mary that leads to the port that is Jesus; tent, within which the Mother welcomes her children to lead them to the Father; lily turned upside down, finally a tear that comes down from above seen in the dynamics of the impact on the ground." (Link.)

*****

Photos: Taken in October 2018 by RW  while travelling to Italy. 

Link:  https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_santuario_Madonna_delle_Lacrime (translation)

                                                                          Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

Catania Train Station Chapel

Train Station Chapel
Catania, Sicily, Italy

Catania Centrale

Location within Sicily (Link.)

"Catania Centrale is the main railway station of the Italian city of Catania, in Sicily. Along with Palermo Centrale, Messina Centrale and Syracuse it is one of the most important stations of its region. It is managed by the Ferrovie dello Stato, the national rail company of Italy.

Entrance to Train Chapel

"The station was inaugurated on 24 June 1866. One century later it was upgraded and renewed due to the electrification of the Messina-Catania line.

Catania Centrale is located close to the Port of Catania and by the sea. It has a railway depot and a link to the port. The station building has two floors and a portico and is protected by the national cultural heritage.

The station is electrified and served by regional trains, by a metro line and by the Circumetnea railway. For long distance transport there are InterCity and Express trains to Rome, Turin, Milan and Venice, linking it also with Genoa, Naples, Bologna, Florence, Pisa and other cities." (Link.)

********

Photos: Taken in October 2018 by RW  while travelling to Italy. 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catania_Centrale_railway_station

                                                                          Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)