Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

[low_delta]

Photos don't do the place justice. You have to be in it.



This is the main sanctuary. The altar is behind the screen. The pews face the center. tonight's speakers spoke from just back from the center, in front of the screen. The organ and choir loft are above and to either side of the altar - out of sight of the ground floor.

There is a spiral staircase on either side of the altar, which leads to the upper and lower floors. Through the space in its center, is a lighted spire.


The stained glass windows around the upper level. Above them are small round "portholes" which let light through. The ceiling is textured gold (leaf).



My camera skills failed me, tonight. Fortunately, my Photoshop skills saved me.





Below is the narthex. To the left is the round exterior wall, with the heavy wooden doors. On the right is the straight interior wall, with its beautiful textured glass doors. There are candles in the back corner, and a sand table to place them in. Unlike the rest of the church, this room has a very earthy feel.

Comments

[vocalista001.livejournal.com]

In the 2nd pic from the bottom, that lighted pole reminds me of a submarine's exit.

The stairs remind me of the nautilus staircase at Valpo U's chapel.

I'd love to look at the glassart in the light.

[sharanga.livejournal.com]

Great pics!

I like the blending of the modern architecture with the Byzantine icongraphy. Most Greek churches I've been in tend to be dark inside.

You need to take a trip to Greece sometime and see the old churches perched on mountain tops (did you see Mama Mia?)

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

I love the photos that show the ceiling and upper seating area (the one during daylight & at night). They're probably the best I've ever seen of that space. The lunette windows under the roof were originally clear glass, but the congregation didn't like it, so they eventually put the traditional icons in there.

The icons at the alter were done by FLLW's secretary, Eugene "Gene" Masselink. Gene came to the Taliesin Fellowship in 1933 for architecture, but became Wright's secretary. He's called one of the "triumvirate" of the Fellowship - 1 of 3 people that were remarkable to FLLW's work as of the early 1930s until his death. The other two in the triumvirate are Jack Howe (lead draftsman) & Wes Peters (main engineer).

Gene got to do graphic design in the last 10 years or so of Wright's life, as well as being the secretary. He was from Grand Rapids, and the museum there had a retrospective of his work last year.

[mummm.livejournal.com]

It's fantastic! I wonder about anyone who could not love Wright's work... seriously.

Your photos are great, Photoshop skilled ones or not.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I wondered about the traditional icons in the glass. It didn't seem like Wright would have designed them in.

The icons on the screens are not the original icons. There was a bit of controversy a few years ago, when they were replaced. The historians/conservationists/Frankophiles were angered that the church would remove such historical pieces. The problem is that this is an active religious building, and they have to act according to the dictates of their religion. The icons are apparently stored in the basement. I hope they're being cared for properly. It would be nice if they loaned them out for exhibitions, like the one on Gene last year.

Interesting reading for a few pages:
book (http://books.google.com/books?id=r-OsEpcTYpMC&pg=PA211&lpg=PA211&dq=%22father+dokos+changed+the+iconography+of+the+church%22&source=bl&ots=BC5lqyIfUV&sig=MAmK7yJjV0KR8-qTCXLp2zQTbuo&hl=en&ei=QMB8TvKGK86nsALRyIAD&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22father%20dokos%20changed%20the%20iconography%20of%20the%20church%22&f=false)

thanks

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

That was a really cool link.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I would love to see Greece. (Didn't see Mama Mia.)

See the discussion just below about the icons. The original icons have been replaced by something more traditional. The leadership in the church and higher, did not feel that Wright's work was proper in that respect.

[beckmermaid.livejournal.com]

Oh My God, I videotaped a wedding for a client at this church one time...I was just talking about this the other day! They had 13 attendants on each side- each bridesmaid had a different colored dress and flowers- (fake) with fake dewdrops...crazy.

The reception was at a bar and there were 400 people- it was a Greek/Irish Catholic wedding and some guy broke another guy's nose but noone cared, they kept partying...

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

The Greeks allowed Catholics to use their church? Wild! Twenty-six attendants? 400 people? Wild!