SANTA MARIA DEL FIORE: THE CHURCH AS A MICROCOSM
Churches, temples, and cathedrals are all places of worship, a place where members are suppose to feel God's presence. But the early Christian Cathedrals were meant to be even more than that. Before a cathedral was even built the architecture included religious symbols such as where things were placed and the very shape of the building. The architecture coupled with the detailing of sculptures, reliefs, frescos, and paintings create a physical and spiritual journey to salvation a microcosm of life and what lies after.
I have chosen the Florence Cathedral, or The Basilica of Santa Maria Del Fiore as it is properly known, to specifically show how cathedrals represent a journey towards salvation. This cathedral has a rich history being built on top of the Santa Reparata in 1296, and 170 years of construction
Before even entering the cathedral the piazza where the cathedral is located is meant to be reminiscent of the holy city of Jerusalem "where God lives among men" (Rev 21:18-19). The cathedral is not the only religious edifice in the piazza. In Front of the cathedral is the Baptistery of San Giovanni, which was built before the Santa Maria cathedral. This marks the beginning of the journey towards salvation, baptism into the church.
The very shape of the cathedral is reminiscent of the cross where Christ hung. The "top" of the cross being pointed towards the east, symbolic of light rebirth and the heavens. The bottom then pointed toward the west and associated with darkness and the setting sun. The "left" of the cross pointed toward the North or the "gospel side" representing preaching the gospel to the North, and usually has art focused on the Old Testament. The "right" of the cross known as the "epistle side" and usually holds depictions of the New Testament. The three points of the cross can also be symbolic of the trinity. The Father, Son, and The Holy Ghost all converging to the point of the crossing.
Still outside the church, when gazing at the facade of the you will notice there are 3 doors or portals to the cathedral this is also somewhat representational of the city of Jerusalem which had three portals on each side of the city. The pointed arches around these doors show the gothic architecture as well as the rose windows above each. The rose windows are often seen in gothic architecture but these windows hold more symbolism because of the connection with Mary. "Saint Mary of the Flower" as the cathedral is named. In the pamphlet given out by the church it states "According to an early 15th century document, the 'flower' is in fact Christ, first fruit of our salvation." Above the main door is a painting of "Christ Enthroned with Mark and John the Baptist" and above that a statue of Mary with the Christ child All the decorations on the very elaborate facade are centered towards Mary and Christ along with many saints, popes, and angels. These depictions show who the cathedral is dedicated to and help to focus the mind on the examples of the saints and their lives that were dedicated to Christ.
Upon walking through the doors to the cathedral it is customary to dip your finger in the holy water and cross yourself, this is a representation of your baptism. You then find yourself in the Nave area of the cathedral which when translated from medieval Latin means "Ship". The ship was an early Christian symbol and is spiritually significant as the ship that conveys you to God, or the walkway that leads to the high alter. While walking through the nave you can see how bare and spacious it feels according to the pamphlet it "corresponds to the spiritual austerity of Florence during the Middle Ages and early Renaissance; it suggests in architectural terms, the spirituality of the great reformers of Florence religious life...". Although the nave is somewhat bare there are 44 stain glass windows in the cathedral depicting the stories of the Old and New Testament around the nave and transept and the life of Christ and Mary around the drum of the dome. The famous stain glass that is on the inner wall of the facade is of Mary being crowned by Christ as is the one directed opposite it on the drum of the dome. Both of them showing who the cathedral is dedicated to and the righteous and glory she ascended to after death.
Reaching the center of the crossing you see the high alter where previously laid the sculpture of the dead Christ at the feet of God the Father. From the alter as you look up into the dome you can see that it is octagonal in shape around the dome, this is an imitation of the very baptistery that sits in front of the cathedral. This could be a symbol of how baptism is needed to enter into heaven. The theme of the paintings around the dome is the Last Judgment, symbolic of the judgment that one must past through before ascending to heaven. In the lowest circle of the dome is depicted hell and capital sins, going upward you see the heavenly virtues that one must aspire to in this life. On the next ring you see Christ on the throne along with Mary and other saints followed by angels in the next ring, and a depiction of the 24 elders at the top. The 24 elders comes from a passage in revelations 4 where John sees a vision of the throne of God and 24 elders sitting around it. The image of Christ on the throne is what is at the center when looking directly from the high alter. This was done purposefully so the viewer would see the dead Christ at the altar and then gaze upward at the enthroned Christ. This could signify the resurrected Christ, and as the viewers gaze continues upward to the spire you experience a heaven like feeling looking up with heavenly depictions all around you and light from the sainted windows shinning in. It is the culminating point of the spiritual and symbolic journey through the cathedral.
The Santa Maria Del Fiore is the Heart of Florence and is an incredible piece of religious history and architectural ingenuity. Architects, sculptors, and painters such as Filippo Brunelleschi, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Arnolfo di Cambio, Georgio Vasari, and so many more put all of their efforts into this cathedral to make it a sacred place of worship with so much symbolic spiritual meaning that members could come to and feel close to the heavens and their God. And after visiting the cathedral and studying everything about it I can appreciate it so much more.