We were standing in a shrine, where an ornate receptacle containing a venerated object was kept. In spite of the notices asking for quiet and respect, there was a hum of voices as tour guides directed a throng of visitors towards the casket. Cameras flashed as people jostled to get close. We were in the Chapel of the Holy Right Hand, in the Basilica of St Stephen, Budapest, which we visited last month. Stephen I was the first Christian monarch of Hungary and canonised a few years after his death. His right hand has been preserved, in mummified form, and is contained in an elaborate reliquary in said chapel. It’s a bit like having Edward the Confessor’s right hand on display in Westminster Abbey.
The Basilica is a splendid neoclassical edifice with terrific views of the city from just below the dome. It’s a must see for visitors to Budapest. But the best bit of the building, from a gospel point of view, is the inscription of John 14 v 6 on the façade. I could read the Latin text, but would the Japanese tourists I saw inside be able to understand Jesus’ words inscribed so large? What would they come away with having visited this ‘Christian’ church? You see, inside the building the statue of St Stephen is prominent at the centre of the high altar, considerably larger than the one of Jesus lower down.
I imagine that Asian tourists have an instinctive understanding of venerable buildings, important national heroes and ancestors. That was certainly borne out on our recent trip to China, of which more in another post. They all have a rightful place in Western societies too. We very much enjoyed seeing the statues of the founding fathers of Hungary in Budapest’s ‘Heroes’ Square’.
But I couldn’t help wondering about the confusing link between patriotism, heroes and church buildings. Our international student friends are bound to visit some of our great historic church buildings – what sort of message will they convey? And what about the more humble church buildings we meet in on Sundays? Are we alert to how they appear to a foreigner? Will they convey gospel values – or are there a lot of confusing messages we’ll need to explain?
The Basilica of St Stephen, Budapest , showing the inscription on the facade
We found Coventry Cathedral one of the best cathedrals to take internationals (until they started charging rather a lot!). Key Bible verses are inscribed in English on large tablets of stone and there are many other powerful, symbolic objects and of course the whole message of forgiveness and reconciliation for which Coventry is well known.
But I also remember taking a small group of i/s wives to a tiny ancient village church and finding good opportunitires to explain the gsopel from what we saw. One visiting Iranian grandmother kissed the Bible in the pew when we explained it was the ‘injil’.
We have also taken i/s round our modern church building and explained the use made of all the various rooms which communicate something about the life of the church congregation outside Sunday services.
By: Patty McC on June 13, 2011
at 12:54 pm