Mark Mizer
Cathedrals
Being
Presbyterian does not mean I don't have a grand appreciation for Christian
Architecture, especially the architecture of the grand cathedrals found in
Europe. When she was a sophomore at
Allegheny College, our daughter, Sarah had the opportunity to spend a semester
in Cologne, Germany. I was vaguely aware of a 'big church' there, but, it
wasn't until Ann and I went to Cologne to see Sarah that I found a grand
cathedral whose enormity, engineering and history overwhelmed me. Called the 'High Cathedral of Saint Peter' or
'der Kolner Dom', construction was started in 1248.
Essentially, it is still
being constructed and restored. Its spires are higher than the total length of
the structure, reaching almost two footballs fields laid end to end into the
sky.
For me, it
is an incredibly awe inspiring edifice. I see God in its Gothic construction.
Cologne was
almost totally obliterated during World War II. But, der Dom, although hit
fourteen times by bombs was left mostly intact. Being the highest structure in
all of Europe at that time, U.S. and British bombers used it as a navigational
aid to find their targets.
For me, der
Kolner Dom serves as a powerful testimony to the strength and persistence of
our Christian belief.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, open our eyes to all the grandeur of Your creations, even the
ones done by the hands of men and women. Amen.
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