Esther's photos with the keyword: Mary

Metropolitan Cathedral Guatemala City, Guatemala AP1045424

The Paleokastritsa Monastery in Corfu, Greece is dedicated to Panagia (Virgin Mary) of Paleokastritsa. It is a Byzantine Monastery that dates from 1228, however most of the surving structures date from the 18th Century. It was mobbed with tourists when we went and the highlight, sadly, was watching the large buses attempt to manouver in the tiny parking lot. AIMG_4096

Grapes at the Paleokastritsa Monastery. The Paleokastritsa Monastery in Corfu, Greece is dedicated to Panagia (Virgin Mary) of Paleokastritsa. It is a Byzantine Monastery that dates from 1228, however most of the surving structures date from the 18th Century. It was mobbed with tourists when we went and the highlight, sadly, was watching the large buses attempt to manouver in the tiny parking lot. AIMG_4100

Panagia Paraportiani in Mykonos, Greece. "The special thing about this church is that it actually consists of five small churches that were built one on top or next to the other. The church of Agios Efstathios is the centre of this complex, surrounded by the churches of Agios Anargyros, Agios Sozon and Agia Anastasia. On top of these four churches, there is the church of Virgin Mary, which looks like a dome." www.greeka.com/cyclades/mykonos/mykonos-churches/panagia-... AIMG_3668

Interior of one of the 250 Greek Orthodox Churches in Mykonos, Greece. "The nave is the main body of the church where the people stand during the services. In most traditional Eastern Orthodox churches there are no seats or pews as in the West, but rather stacidia (A high-armed chair with arm rests high enough to be used for support while standing); these are usually found along the walls. Traditionally there is no sitting during services with the only exceptions being during the reading of the Psalms, and the priest's sermon. The people stand before God. However, many exceptions to this can be found in western countries, especially the USA, where familiarity with Catholic and Protestant churches has led to similarities in church furnishings. It is not uncommon to encounter both pews and kneelers. The walls are normally covered from floor to ceiling with icons or wall paintings of saints, their lives, and stories from the Bible. Because the church building is a direct extension of its Jewish roots where men and women stand separately, the Orthodox Church continues this practice, with men standing on the right and women on the left. With this arrangement it is emphasized that we are all equal before God (equal distance from the altar), and that the man is not superior to the woman. In many modern churches this traditional practice has been altered and families stand together." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_church_architecture AIMG_3676