Enlarge for best view, if you have time. Thank you.
1 St Francis Church, Rabat
2 St Peter and Paul Parish Church , Nadur
3 Immaculate Heart of Mary, Franciscan Nuns Convent, Rabat
4 St George’s Basilica, Rabat
5 Corpus Christi Parish Church, Għasri
6 Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary, Għarb
7 Visitation of our Lady Parish Church, Għarb
8 St Margaret Parish Church, Sannat
I took this collage of shots on Maundy Thursday/Good Friday. They are of some of the Altars of Repose beautifully arranged in churches around Gozo. Chose your pick and tell me the one you like most. I have decided on mine.
The Easter religious events and décor are an attraction to catholics and non-catholics alike. I enjoy going around these decorated Altars of Repose and attend to church functions during this time of the year.
There is a tradition in the Maltese Islands for people to visit seven (I don’t know why the number) different Altars of Repose, saying some prayers before each altar and on the way to the next ‘station’ say the rosary. This tradition is gradually losing favour as those who want to pray are turning to an hour’s (more or less) adoration in one place. Being part of the culture of a nation I hate to see these traditions losing out to more modern activity. In my opinion its culture distinguish a nation, big or small, from other nations.
Joke: A kindergarten teacher was walking around observing her classroom of children while they were drawing pictures. As she got to one girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."
Thank you very much for looking and for your wonderful comments and the fav’s on yesterday’s picture.
Hard to choose. They are all so beautiful But being a lover of angels, I will pick #3. What a lovely tradition and you are right. I am also a die hard traditionalist.
Great choice of subject for a montage and well presented, as always.
They are all beautifully done but I'm a minimalist at heart, so I will pick no.6 but I especially like the lighting in no. 1.
I think my favorite is number 5. I love the lighting and framing of the altar, Great comp on all of them and beautifully presented. I hate to see the traditions fade away as well. THanks for helping to keep it alive and sharing it.
They are all quite beautiful. I'm intrigued by the lighting of #6 especially but I can't get them large enough to see the detail of what that object is. I find the colors of #2 equally beautiful- the reds and blues quite rich. I'm also drawn to the symbolism in #8 but I don't know what that "hairy" thing is in front of the altar. A manger? So, in the end I think I will choose number 2 as my favorite.
I also love many aspects of keeping traditions. But I am glad that for some people the reason for change is for more time to pray! I don't know if it's possible but there must be a way to blend the two approaches.
And lastly my thought on visiting 7 altars would be that in the Bible 7 is always associated with God the Father and it is a holy number- as in He rested on the 7th day and made it holy. Just a guess!
This is truly a stunning collection of images. Love the richness of the colors and the lighting - guess my favorite might be #1 - though they're all fascinating.
@sangwann No, normally we leave them in the ground and they bloom year after year and even with more flowers. The only thing I can think of : you have to let grow the leafs after bloom till they have withered leaves by them self`s. Maybe you climate is to dry for it.
They are all beautifully done but I'm a minimalist at heart, so I will pick no.6 but I especially like the lighting in no. 1.
A great collage of all beautiful captures.
nice idea too to get 365 feedback
I also love many aspects of keeping traditions. But I am glad that for some people the reason for change is for more time to pray! I don't know if it's possible but there must be a way to blend the two approaches.
And lastly my thought on visiting 7 altars would be that in the Bible 7 is always associated with God the Father and it is a holy number- as in He rested on the 7th day and made it holy. Just a guess!