Monday, July 24, 2006
Church
Here is a picture of the church that we have gone to here in Lviv. It is kind of close to our house. Its architecture is typical of Lviv churches.
Most of the big, old churches were built by the Hapsburgs during Austrian control of the region. At that time, the majority of the city was ethnically Polish and Jewish, with a Ukrainian minority. More recently, many of these churches were converted into Orthodox ones, which creates some odd juxtapositions. On Sunday, for example, the priest preached from a high pulpit 15 feet in front and to the left of the ambon (where there is still a marble communion rail).
Most of the big, old churches were built by the Hapsburgs during Austrian control of the region. At that time, the majority of the city was ethnically Polish and Jewish, with a Ukrainian minority. More recently, many of these churches were converted into Orthodox ones, which creates some odd juxtapositions. On Sunday, for example, the priest preached from a high pulpit 15 feet in front and to the left of the ambon (where there is still a marble communion rail).
