The stained glass windows at the Monastery are blue, purple and pink. The whole of the church is bathed in a blue light when the sun is out but the altar is in yellow, the windows there are yellow and orange. It is very effective. The monks built everything here, the concrete building and the stained glass windows. At first, they meant to just have the windows as plain glass. However, the Georgia heat made for a change of mind! It made it much cooler with the blue....
The church at the Monastery has been closed since mid March so I have not been able to step inside the sanctuary of the church since then. I miss it. Of course, the monks are quite elderly now and it makes perfect sense for them to close down but it is still something that I miss terribly. Still, I know that the monks are there and working and praying every day. (That is what they do, after all, "ora et labora"...the Latin for pray and labor.)
If you are reading this from the USA, you can always go to their website and order gifts for mailing. https://holyspiritmonasterygifts.com/ I do think they ship anywhere in the country.
The fruitcake and biscotti are both very good.
Peace.
That coloured light and the contrast between the cool blue and the golden glow around the altar is indeed very effective, and so fitting!
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that you can not enter the church at the moment, but as you say, it is understandable under the circumstances.
Over here, churches were closed for services for months, but most communites were rather innovative in offering alternatives such as live streaming services for people at home and so on. Now for several weeks, services and masses have been possible again, always under restrictions such as keeping enough distance in the pews, and until very recently, singing was not allowed - can you imagine going to church and NOT sing?!
But apparently, singing or playing brass instruments spreads aerosol much more than just talking, and it is considered dangerous. I couldn't help thinking, how come going to church is all of a sudden more dangerous than going to the supermarket?!
It seems strange to see all the churches so empty. I don't remember if you recall the post I did several years ago about the KIng James Bible Exhibit and Rockdale County was chosen for it to here because our small county has more churches per square mile than any other one in Georgia! Believe me, I really noticed how many there were when I drove past them on Sunday and all of the lots were empty.
DeleteAnd the difference with supermarkets is that (hopefully) one is always on the move while buying food but a church service, you are sitting (or kneeling or standing) in the same spot with others very close to you. I know that some churches are opening back up with distances between those attending. Let's hope that will be okay!
Take care when you are out and wear a mask and keep your distance, Meike!
It would be a beautiful place to sit awhile on a hot summer day, but oh my biscotti and fruitcake would be a big draw too. Such a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteIt is such a place of peace and beauty. I have been visiting there since I was a teenager, so...for a very long time! They used to make bread in the bakery and they sold in the grocery stores here. Not long ago, they began making the bread again! They sold it in the Monastery gift shop, I hope it will open again soon!
DeleteI love churches with stained glass.
ReplyDeleteOh! I love stained glass also! It is something that I truly admire when I am in England. Did you ever see the post I did about the stained glass windows at the little church in England that are by Matisse? They are at the All Saints Church in Tudeley. I hope to see them one day!
DeleteKay, I love how the church was built . It looks amazing. Praying for the older monks to be safe from this virus and be able to open the church again. Blessings, stay safe my friend, xoxo,love, Susie
ReplyDeleteDear Susie, Blessings to you! And all best wishes to you and your Ted. xx
DeleteVery beautiful. We have a Greek Monastery here but it's been closed to visitors for a while. I think we need more places for prayers 🙏 these days!
ReplyDeleteWe are in need of prayer and also beauty and peace! Take care. xx
DeleteThe blue certainly gives the appearance of cold.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to me that they monks only meant the glass to be clear glass and they ended up learning how to do stained glass! It is really beautiful and the blue gives a much needed coolness in hot Georgia!
DeleteConsidering it's made of concrete that is a very beautiful and elegant building. Even Charles Rennie Mackintosh, in my opinion, failed to make his concrete structures look as good or as interesting and I've been in them all.I prefer your Monastery.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing that the building is of concrete, it truly is so beautiful! Of course, you can see the lovely wood at the very top of the ceiling also! And that sounds like quite the compliment to compare this building to Charles Rennie Mackintosh! Lovely thing to read here, thank you!
DeleteIt is very beautiful and cool looking. I am sorry you cannot visit it now. I hope things will become safe enough, soon enough, for that to change.
ReplyDeleteSafe enough, soon enough...how we all wish for that! Take care.
DeleteThe grounds and church are peaceful and beautiful, I have been on retreat there; it is a loss that the monastery is closed, praying for the health of the monks.
ReplyDeleteOh Jenny! Thanks very much for your comment, you have been on a retreat, so you know how lovely it is, and how serene!
DeleteTake care and stay safe.
It looks like it is a very beautiful area.
ReplyDeleteTake good care, Kay...my best thoughts and wishes go your way. :)
Hello Lee!
DeleteIt is very beautiful and it is not far from our own home!
Lovely to see your comment here, I hope you are keeping well in your part of the world! x
I had always wished to visit the Monastery but it’s on the other side of Atlanta and I never had a chance. Now of course with only going back to GA to clear out the house I doubt I’ll ever go there. I read about them – they bake bread and made stain glass windows, too, no? I am not a churchgoer but love to visit old churches to look at their stain glass windows and art, and when in France I like to listen to their organ concerts. I hope the virus in GA is going down as I’m afraid to drive back there right now. Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteI know just what you mean about the other side of Atlanta! Our son lives in Cobb County and he might as well be on the other side of the world.
DeleteThe virus here in Georgia is not going down, if you are anywhere where the rates are lower, I would stay there. Be safe and keep blogging. Your writing and photos on your blog are just exquisite. I mean it! By the way, our son's girlfriend is from Armenia!