Toronto Street Sign (January 12, 2008)

(Seen in the Annex.)

Basilica of San Nazaro in Brolo (May, 2007)

I was struck by this church as I was strolling along in my first solo wander through central Milan. I hadn't ever seen architecture like this before--possibly because the church was begun in 382 CE, a date that puts it in the early period of Christianity and squarely within the Roman era as well. Constantine, the first Christian Roman emperor, died in 336 (the Edict of Milan was in 313). Christianity became the religion of Rome in 380--just two years before the ground was broken for San Nazaro in Brolo. So its construction occurred at a unique juncture in Christian history.

Hamilton Fogged (April, 2011)

Here are a few pictures I took in downtown Hamilton last week; we've had some pretty strange spring weather, but I can never complain about fog. I love the way it truly makes everything look like "another world".

Easter Vigil (April 23, 2011)

This year for Easter Saturday (last week) I was invited to the Easter vigil at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Hamilton. I'd never been inside this particular church before. A treat! It's in the style of Gothic cathedrals, the ones built with flying buttresses, but this one doesn't have the buttresses (as can be observed from the outside of the church).



Above: Rib-vaulting in the roof and classic pointed arches.



Above: One of the church helpers popped open this window before the service began. I think this was to alleviate the incense a bit (frankincense actually). I actually have a dish of the same incense at home, I do love the smell of it.



Above: Low light in the church as the vigil service begins.



Above: Lighting of Easter candles. I love any ceremony involving fire, and had never seen this event where a church in total darkness is gradually lit up by the spread of many tiny lights.



Above: Although this is blurred, I still quite like it. It's the Bishop lighting someone's candle at the end of a pew.



Above: I love these kinds of "soft" arches. I don't know the technical term for this, but it's a great effect; they are pointed/ogival arches of some kind, with a kind of fanning out of strips of masonry, common in the large churches with this type of Gothic design.



Above: The congregation and guests mingling after the service.



Above: Another shot of the vaulted roof. It's actually called "fan vaulting", specifically.