Approximately ten years ago, the remnants of an ancient church located in Israel were excavated by the Israeli Antiquities Authority. The church, which is put at around 1500 years in age, is located near Moshav Aluma in the south of Israel. Frequently this church is descri…
Paleochristian Architecture: The Discovery of a 1500 Year Old Christian Church in Israel
Approximately ten years ago, the remnants of an ancient church located in Israel were excavated by the Israeli Antiquities Authority. The church, which is put at around 1500 years in age, is located near Moshav Aluma in the south of Israel. Frequently this church is descri…
The Ornamental Hood of the Mozzetta
The mozzetta of prelates today is a shoulder cape garment that until 1969 was also always tailored to have a small ornamental hood for cardinals and bishops. This miniature hood was a nod to the past, reminiscent of the days when the mozzetta had an actual hood that was lar…
Knight Chaplains of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (in Latin, Ordo Equestris Sancti Sepulcri Hierosolymitani ), is an order of knighthood and recognized order of chivalry under the direct protection of the Holy See. According to its constitutions, the popes are the sove…
The Transformation of a Dining Hall into Our Lady Star of the Sea Chapel
S tudio io Design recently unveiled a project they were involved in which saw the repurposing of a former dining hall as a chapel at Our Lady's Healing Center in Seadrift, Texas. The project in question shows how a great deal can be accomplished with only a very little a…
New Ecclesiology, New Liturgy - Exploring The Rationale of Post-Conciliar Liturgists and Why They Changed Church Architecture
This article was originally published in the March 2024 issue of "Lettre à nos frères prêtres" under the title "L’Église de la Nouvelle Liturgie. The article is republished in English translation here with the kind permission of the author, Abbé Grégoire Celi…
The Padiglione
A question that has come in our direction on more than one occasion pertains to the drapery (frequently red in colour, though not always) that one sometimes sees suspended behind certain Italian altars, frequently topped a crown. Within Italy these are known as the padiglio…
Romanitas: The Reception Room of a Cardinal in Rome
There is a custom for cardinals resident in Rome to have a throne room in their home. This is for the formal reception of guests and to receive the Roman Pontiff, if he chooses to call upon them. For this reason there is always included a chair reserved only for the pope.
Recent Works by Murals by Jericho at St. Mark's Church in Argyle, Texas
M urals by Jericho is based out of Peoria, Illinois. The firm is operated by artists Andrew Hattermann and Robert Hill and while mural work is one of their primary skillsets, as evidenced by their company name, they also provide other liturgical design and consulting service…
Restorations at the Church of St. Aloysius in Oxford (The Oxford Oratory)
Awhile ago we gave a little view of some updates made to one of the chapels dedicated to the Sacred Heart at the Church of St. Aloysius in Oxford -- better known simply as the Oxford Oratory -- which, since the 1990's, has been under the care of the Oratorians, but ther…
A Brief Survey of Some of the Extant Mosaics of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople
The history of the great church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (modern day Istanbul) is a complex and convoluted one -- even before the Ottoman conquest of the city. The original church on this site was founded in A.D. 360 by Constantine, followed by a second Theodosian …
Green Needn't Mean 'Ordinary'
Green is the liturgical colour associated with either the "time after Pentecost" (according to the traditional Roman rite) or the "tempus per annum" / "ordinary time" (in the modern liturgy of Paul VI), but while green represents that 'defa…
The Bussolante of the Papal Court
For generations papal liturgies were enriched with the presence of the bussolanti who walked in the papal processions. Images in color are rare of the bussolante courtiers (plural bussolanti) in their pontifical Spanish dress from the time of Philip II. They were attendants…
Newman's University Church in Dublin
One of my favorite travel memories is arriving in Dublin for Holy Week services in April and racing through the tulips of St. Stephen's Green to visit Newman's University Church in Dublin, built in Roman Basilica style. It is a storied church that Bishop Sheen was f…
The Italo-Byzantine Domes of Venice
One of the most distinctive visual characteristics of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice are its five impressive domes. Keen observers of architecture will note that their form is rather distinctive as they are no the usual 'hemispherical' or oval/egg-shaped domes t…
A 'Tridentine' Altar From Prior to the Council of Trent
The Council of Trent (1545-1563) is known for many things. It's doctrinal clarity, the publication of a catechism, it also ushered in a new era of liturgical ordering that would see a shift away from medieval and Renaissance models emphasizing (in response to protestant…
New Thurible Unveiled by Heritage Liturgical
Our good friend Enzo Selvaggi of Heritage Liturgical unveiled a new thurible/censer that was custom made in Spain. The artist was Emilio Leon of Cordoba, who is reviving time-honored artigianale methods of silver smithing. The details and truly remarkable, as is the size an…
Corpus Christi Canopy Available from Haftina Atelier in Poland
It is still difficult to find companies in North America that make old-style Corpus Christi processional canopies or that offer the decorative poles. In countries like Poland and Portugal, these items are still thankfully made and are available for purchase. This beautiful …
Three Marian Themed Vestments for the Feast of the Assumption
As today is the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I thought we'd take a quick look at a few Marian or specifically Assumption themed vestments spanning three different centuries. In seeing these examples, you will not only be treated to a 'Marian m…
Churches of France: Église Saint-Eustache in Paris
One of my favourite churches in Paris, France is the Église Saint-Eustache which is the second largest church in the city after the cathedral of Notre Dame itself. The church is dedicated to St. Eustache of Macon, a third century Roman martyr, hunter and military leader.
The Ancient Roman Origins of Popular Vestment Designs from the 17th, 18th and 19th Century
One of the popular design motifs found in vestment design (not to mention other areas of ecclesiastical art and architecture) is that which shows vegetal motifs in scrolling, winding patterns (called "volutes"). Often these designs include acanthus leaves and flow…
The Trinity Dome by St. Jude Liturgical Arts Studio
Mosaics are something we frequently associate with the ancient basilicas of Rome and the like, but the tradition of mosaics extends well beyond the confines of Europe and, fortunately, well into the new world and beyond.
The Restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris: the New Iconic Spire is Revealed
The restoration work on Notre-Dame in Paris continues, thankfully in the footprint of historic Gothic splendor. In the month of February, nearly five years after the fire, the newly created spire has been unveiled. This is the third spire in the history of Notre-Dame.
Echoes of the Papal Court: the Foriere Maggiore of the Sacred Apostolic Palaces
In the photo here are three lay members of the now vanquished Papal Court, Marchese don Giulio Sachetti, the Foriere Maggiore (who passed in 2010), Principe Massimo, the Sopraintendente Generale delle Poste, and Marchese Giacomo Serlupi-Crescenzi, the Cavallerizzo Maggiore…
Introducing the Studio of St. Luke
Recently I came across the Studio of St. Luke owned and operated by Rave A. Bandong Mr. Bandong offers hand-painted paschal candlesticks rooted in the classical tradition while also pursuing other design commissions. To introduce you to this young Catholic artist, we'l…
The Why and Wherefore of the Absence of Gothic Architecture in Rome
If you go to Rome, one will find a plethora of paleochristian architectural elements, Romanesque, Renaissance, neoclassical and baroque, however what one will find rather little of is gothic. This might seem strange especially to the inhabitants of the English-speaking worl…
Examples of Rare Cloth of Silver Vestments
Recently we shared an article on the topic of "cloth of gold" which is, of course, threading that has been wrapped in a very thin, gold metal. However, the lesser known and seen cousin of cloth of gold is cloth of silver. Cloth of silver is exactly like its cloth …
The Palazzo Massimo Chapel in Rome
The House of Massimo is one of the most renowned families in Rome, a historic aristocratic lineage, the oldest noble family in Europe. Members of the so-called "black nobility," the family traces its lineage back to the Republican Period of Ancient Rome. Their ho…
Spanish Sculptor Edwin Gonzalez Solis
Our good friend Enzo Selvaggi of Heritage Liturgical has drawn our attention to the Spanish artist Edwin Gonzalez Solis, based in Córdoba. Edwin creates statues of wood and other materials that are then usually painted, in the realistic style of classical realism. One of hi…
Some Altars of the Basilica of Santa Giustina in Padua
The Basilica Abbaziale di Santa Giustina is located in the Italian city of Padua, formerly home to one of the largest abbeys within Christendom until the time of Napoleon, and home also to the relics of St. Luke and the Holy Innocents. The original abbey church was subject …
Altar Canopies: A Continuity of Tradition
Guest Article by Michael Bursch, AIA Throughout the history of the Church, theology has developed and norms have changed, and different styles of architecture have gone in and out of style. Yet throughout all this time, the use of altar canopies has continued. Although more …
A Brief History of Cloth of Gold
Cloth of gold is something that is mentioned as one possible substitute for liturgical white and it is frequently a point of conversation amongst vestment aficionados. Popularly speaking, however, the idea of "gold" vestments is frequently reduced to simply mean y…
Before and After: St. Mary of the Assumption in Taylor, Texas
Our next consideration in our ever popular 'before and after' series looks at the parish church of St. Mary of the Assumption in Taylor, Texas. this particular project, undertaken by Studio io and Canning Liturgical Arts ,.
Spanish Artist Ana Rey: Maker of Statues
The art of statue making in Spain is quite advanced and superbly expressive. In fact, many new statues created there look quite real. I would like to call the attention of readers to a new artist on the scene by the name of Ana Rey. Her website can be found here . A sample o…
Eighteenth Century Embroidered Liturgical Cuffs
Recently I came across the following exquisite example of a liturgical "cuff" -- which, in the Byzantine East is called the epimanikion or epimanikia (pl). It is important to note, however, that such liturgical cuffs were not unique to the Chrisitan East as they c…
The Polystavrion of the Byzantine East
If you've ever spent much time looking at icons within the Byzantine tradition, you will have no doubt noticed the distinctive sacred vestments that can often be seen within many of them. These come in various forms, but all of them involve a series of repeating Greek c…
Churches of Venice: San Nicolò dei Mendicoli
Continuing on with our exploration of some of the churches of Venice, we turn today to San Nicolò dei Mendicoli, located in the Dorsoduro district of the city. The original church on this site is considered to have been one of the oldest within Venice with the original foun…
Our Lady of the Mountains (Highlands, NC) by McCrery Architects
Our good friends at McCrery Architects have designed a true masterpiece in the mountains of North Carolina. The parish community of Our Lady of the Mountains in Highlands, NC is getting a new church and the design team at McCrery has done a fabulous job, working alongside t…
A Visit to the Studio of Sacra Indumenta: Bespoke Sacred Vestments and Liturgical Linens Made in the USA
The unquenchable hope of every traditional Catholic is to see beauty restored and maintained in the sacred liturgy, with worthy vestments in all their indescribable glory, color and magnificence, to the benefit of laity and the clergy alike.
