Small Church in South India

This is a small church in South India. You can see the cultural integration here. Rangoli at the doorsteps. Colourful. It is a Mother Mary church.

A small statue of Mother Mary inside the church. The interiors of the church are as colourful as the outside.

You might also like:  Church Silhouettes or Christmas Tree Silhouette
A large church in Kerala: Ancient Kerala Church called Cheriya Pally
A church and a mosque in one place - Hagia Sophia Pictures. A place of worship for both religions - a churchmosque which is most of the time functions like a museum.

The Image of different Religions

Various surveys measure the image of different religions, and I did an image search on Google on different religions to see what would come up! These images are screenshots from the 11th December 2012, and might have already changed - keeping with the thought that images of religions is a fluid thing.

The followers of religions such as words like "Christians" or "Jews" were googled.  The first dozen or so images which appear in response to the search query captures the "image" of the religious followers in people's minds currently.

It's hardly two days old, but the google search results for "Christians" has changed dramatically! A lot of news regarding Christians in the world! The first is an image of the Lord Jesus, something about powerful Christians in Hollywoood, worshippers, the cover of a religious book, Christians in Syria, Egyptian Christians protesting,  Christians in Palestine, some anti-Christian views of Jews, an image of Jesus Christ, Muslims and Christians together protesting attack on church in Egypt, more protesters. There are pictures of the Jesus, but mostly the search results are about protests.

Here is what searching for "Hindus" on Google Search gets you:

Swastika, an ancient symbol representing Hindusim, women praying probably near the holy river Ganga, the religious dancers, another sacred ancient Hindu symbol, the Om, dancers, Pakistani Hindus not wanting to return to Pakistan, the Lord Shiva, worshippers, and again a picture of Pakistani Hindus not wanting to return to Pakistan and more worshippers. The search results are mostly about worshippers and symbols of Hinduism and about Pakistani Hindus not wanting to go back to Pakistan.

Googling "Jains" brought forth pictures of worshippers, maps and religious symbols.

Googling "Jews" brought forth a wiki page, images of worshippers, pretty girls, Israel history, early American Jews, protest regarding attitude of liberal American Jews. Interestingly no photographs of violence, not on this day.

When it comes to the word "Muslims", the photos that came up were of women in Burkhas, children praying, women praying, men praying, protesters, a mosque, more protesters, about attitudes to terrorism, about the hatred of Americans towards Muslims, statistics, protest in Britain by Muslims, worshippers, about the negative image of Muslims and more worshippers. If I were a Muslim I would be worried because the way the women dress has become symbolic of the negativity surrounding Muslims. Not to mention the hatred of violence in the name of religion.

I googled the word "pagans" as well because there are some major religions of the world which think that worshippers of all other religions are "pagans" and the word has a negative connotation. Even though the meaning of pagan means someone who has a mythology associated with their religion, the word has been associated with non-believer by arrogant religions. And what I got when I googled the word "pagans" was pictures of weird symbols, strange ancient rituals, pagan communities, and ineffectual definitions of paganism.

A pity that Scientology is associated with the famous people who are scientologists. That's what the image is!

Shintos are Japanese and here I got peaceful images of Shinto shrines, worshippers, and Shinto symbols.

By googling the word Sikhs one saw images of pain and suffering, and also of worshippers and religious symbols.

Buddhists praying, a photo of the Pope and Buddhists about religious dialogue, images of Buddhist worshippers and of Buddha, the Dharma wheel, more worshippers, and a meeting to discuss attacks on Buddhist places of worship. The search results are mostly about the Buddhist worshippers, and symbols of Buddhist. Also one picture of inter-religious dialogue and another discussing attacks on Buddhist shrines. Interesting that there are no photos of violent protests, just peaceful meetings.

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Ancient Kerala Church called Cheriya Pally

Cheriya Pally, an old Syrian Christian church in Kottyama in Kerala, one of the few old churches which are well maintained. Cheriya Pally is a church that has been influenced by the local culture and architecture of Hindu temples, and more important the Kerala style of architecture. This is evident in architectural influences as well as the typical niches for the oil lamps which is common in Hindu temples. The fascinating part of this Church is to see the amalgamation of Christian and the Hindu styles. The Orthodox Christians have built most of their churches in this unique traditional Kerala style, which is similar to Kerala temples.

The Church was built in 1579 and most of the facade is in the European/Portuguese style of  architecture. There are galleries, pillars and cornices. There are striking religious murals on the walls, and these paintings have been influence by both Indian and Western styles of art. It was built the local king for the Christians in his kingdom.

This is a panoramic view of the ancient Kerala church called Cheriya Pally.

Overall Kerala's style of architecture is unique in India, in its striking contrast to Dravidian architecture which is normally practiced in other parts of South India. This picture shows the entrance to the church and again a tall gold or brass tower, perhaps a lamp tower, which is commonly seen in Kerala temples. Lamps are lit here. The cross at the top distinguishes it from a temple!

Here are brass lamps which are typically found in Indian temples. This is the inside of a church, in front of the main alter. These lamps go all the way down the long corridor which can be seen in the first image.

A closer look at the various murals and designs above the altar of the church.

A church and a mosque in one place - Turkey! Check out the Hagia Sophia Pictures which goes one step further. This is not just a place influenced by architectural styles but a place of worship for both religions - a churchmosque which is most of the time a museum.
There are also a lot of pictures of the Sistine Chapel  in Vatican City in Rome on this website.
More related images: Church Silhouettes or Christmas Tree Silhouette

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Sistine Chapel Corridor Ceiling Paintings and Designs

The Sistine Chapel's (where the Pope resides), is famous for its architecture and sculpted decorations and paintings. Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio worked on the paintings and frescoes in the chapel and the results as you can see in these pictures, are spectacular.

The golden ceiling fresco at the Sistine Chapel. This painted architecture as visible in these pictures is full of religious symbols like the acorn, fish, and falcons.

Not just gold, but also red and blue are used extensively in these remarkable art works. All the paintings have elaborately decorated borders. The paintings here contain figures of angels alongwith various other symbols used to convey some meaning.

Another photograph of the paintings lining the celing at the Sistine Chapel in Rome. The painted architecture not only comprises of various symbols depicting Christianity and the story of Jesus Christ, but also pictures of angels, trumpets and other figures.

At the end of the magnificent corridor you can see a sculpture of two figures standing alongside the symbol of of what looks like a small dragon. These paintings are a showcase of the reproduction of the anatomy and the contours of the human form.

These pale and pastel raised paintings or designs on the ceiling also appear to depict some story from the bible. There is no doubt that all this work is telling a story and is mean to be interpreted and read.

All the artwork on the walls or ceilings of the Sistine chapel show some aspect of the story of Jesus Christ and Moses.

Related Images: More Sistine Chapel Ceiling Designs or the exteriors of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City in Rome Italy or check all the photographs filed under Rome"

Sistine Chapel Ceiling designs

The Sistine Chapel is where the Pope lives, the head of the Catholic Church. It lies in the Vatican City. It's painted architecture and sculpted decorations, frescoes and paintings are famous throughout the world. Renaissance artists like Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio worked on the paintings and frescoes in the chapel, creating great works of art.

This is an image of the spectacular ceiling of one of the corridors inside the church. Most of these paintings depict the life of Jesus Christ and Moses and are meant to be interpreted and read.  Symbolism was used freely.

Another equally breathtaking painting on the ceiling of the church surrounded by gold engravings. Angels and other figures from the bible were used freely in the artwork and frescoes on the ceiling.

A circular painting up inside an arch at the Roman Church. This painting shows some sort of war or battle going on. Some of the figures (angels?) are shown killing animals and also humans.

Another circular piece of renaissance art. Angles with wings and halos can be seen in the blue and gold painting.

Related Images: More Sistine Chapel Corridor Ceiling Paintings and Designs or   Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City in Rome Italy
For more pictures from Italy and Rome:  City of Roma - Pictures or  Photographs of the Colosseum at Rome, Italy or Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi) in Rome or the Rome castle or Castel Sant'Angelo - photographs and sketch or try any of the labels below this post.

Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City in Rome Italy

The Sistine Chapel is the official residence of the Pope in the Vatican City. It's architecture and sculpted decorations and paintings are famous. Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio worked on the paintings and frescoes in the chapel.

The image below is a wide angle view of the famous Sistine chapel which lies in Vatican city. Hundreds of tourists are milling about. The actual chapel is quite plain from the outside.

Another view of the large Sistine Chapel area.

The crowds at the Sistine Chapel are huge and this photo captures some of them.

This is one of the doors, an exit. A guard in costume is standing at the door. Even here elaborate sculpted figures can be seen. The door is huge and at the top there is a small painting with sculptures of angels on each side of it. Like many ancient doors this one too seems to be fortified with iron protrusions.

A view of the chapel and the buildings around it in Vatican city.

The actual structures of the chapel and the buildings around it are all decorated with sculptures on the roof and the dome is also very elaborately decorated.

Related Images: City of Roma - Pictures or  Photographs of the Colosseum at Rome, Italy or Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi) in Rome or the Rome castle or Castel Sant'Angelo - photographs and sketch

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Christmas Tree Silhouette

This is a silhouette of a christmas tree with decorations and lights

(Silhouettes on this blog are all drawn by me and based on photos shot by me but this Xmas tree silhouette is drawn by me but based on a photograph from the web. )



Related Images or graphics: Church Silhouettes

Hagia Sophia Pictures

Imagine a church and Mosque combined into one! Well, that is what Hagia Sophia (a churchmosque) is all about. Well, to be precise it was a church, then a mosque, and has now been made into a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. It is magnanimous of the Turkish people and government to have stopped it from being a mosque, considering that it was originally a church. By making it a museum they are showing their sense of fairness as the mosque had been forcibly made in the premises of the church.

It was a church from 360 B.C. to 1453, and became a mosque from 1453 until 1931. In 1453 Sultan Mehmed laid siege to Constantinople, "driven in part by a desire to convert the city to Islam."

Hagia Sophia has a huge dome, typycally Byzantine Christian architecture and was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years. As a mosque it was the principal mosque of Istanbul for almost 500 years.
Today it is a tourist spot. This is a photo of the exterior of the Hagia Sophia.

A shot of the interior, the main hall. There was some restoration work going on but here you can see the symbols of both Christianity and Islam. A painting of Christ at the top of the image and an Islamic symbol to the right of the picture.

Here is a photograph of the elaborately carved and painted interiors. Paintings of Christ are visible.

Another image of the inside of the domes and a small image of Jesus Christ.

Related Images: The Blue Mosque at Istanbul
There are also a lot of pictures of the Sistine Chapel  in Vatican City in Rome on this website.

Or more related images: Church Silhouettes or Christmas Tree Silhouette

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Church Silhouettes

These are simple black and white silhouettes or drawings of actual churches. They are based on photographs which I have shot. The silhouettes may not represent the church exactly as I have taken the liberty of removing greenery or billboards or people from the original pictures. I have also added features to make the silhouettes more attractive or at times cropped the original picture.

This is a church in Goa. There is one cross at the top of the building and a bell. The door has been outlined.

This is a small church with many steeples and crosses. Not sure of the location. Could be in a foreign country.

This silhouette is of the same church but with the door outlined.

This is a church in central Mumbai. I have made some changes while drawing the silhouette. It is a large and very beautiful church.

Related Silhouettes: Christmas Tree Silhouette or Wedding couple silhouette or check out all the Silhouettes available on this blog, of people, buildings, and objects.