June 2, 2010: Canterbury Cathedral
Another amazing day in Kent! May and I took the southeastern express out to Canterbury today. The main goal was to see Canterbury Cathedral, one of the oldest and most famous cathedrals in all England. The Cathedral at Canterbury is the cathedral of the Archbishop of Caterbury, the leader of the Church of England, and it is very symbolic worldwide, representing the head of the Anglican Communion.
Looking up and down the Nave. Notice how the ribbing goes along the columns and into the ceiling.
The actual spot where Thomas Becket was Murdered
The most pivitol moment in the history of Canterbury Cathedral was the murder of Thomas Becket December 29, 1170, by the knights of King Henry II, all because of conflicts between the two. That will teach one to have a conflict with the king. Granted Becket was the second of four Archbishiops to be murdered at Canterbury Cathedral.
Romanesque rounded arches are found throughout, but someone re-carved as an example of the "new" way- the new English Gothic style.
The Cathedral is a mix of architectural forms and fixtures, but it predominantly English Gothic. The East end of the Cathedral is Norman and Ealry English, while the Nave is English Gothic. Following a fire in 1174, the choir was rebuilt in an example of early English Gothic, with high pointed arches, rib vaulting, and flying buttresses. And of course who could forget the great cloister!!
Canterbury is an amazing place, and filled with peoples from all over the world. There were two moments where I got goosebumps. Twice while I was walking around the Cathedral, on of the monks stepped up to the lectern, gave a blessing, and asked the people present to repeat the Lord's Prayer in what ever language they were comfortable with. Everything around me stopped, cameras stopped, the light in the shop went out, people stood where they were and began to recite-
Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
on Earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive then that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For Thin is the kingdom,
And the power, and the glory
forever and ever.
Amen.
It felt incredible, it was truly an amazing moment that sent shivers up and down my spine. To think that on a given date, at any given moment, a truly random group of assembled peoples, could drop everything and together recite a prayer. And not just any prayer, but a prayer that Jesus himself used as an example of how to pray. After the monk finished leading the prayer, he encouraged everyone to continue to meditate or walk around as they were.
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