Sacred Spaces

Sep 6, 2019
2 min read

Updated: Nov 15, 2024

I'm known to be a culture and history traveler. In addition to wanting to see museums and historic sites, I also make beelines for built heritage, especially local places of worship. I have even made my pilgrimages to some of the most visited and storied sites in Catholicism: Lourdes in France, Fatima in Portugal, and Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico.

In my own Catholic upbringing, ornate churches and their art were a constant. This imparted in me a life-long appreciation for religious art and architecture. Beyond the imagery in the paintings and frescoes as well as the often imposing architectural features, these sacred spaces churches contribute to creating a peaceful environment that nurtures inner reflection and provides a refuge and sanctuary from the often brutal realities of the world outside.

For me, religion, though usually stemming from organized faiths and communities of followers, is a private affair when it comes to personal interpretation and how we apply our beliefs to our day-to-day lives.

While they say God is omnipresent and that one doesn't need a physical space to nurture spirituality, places of worship offer a common place for divine unity. As I have learned in my art history classes years ago, having a dedicated space to reflect on life and your relationship with high beings simply invokes heightened self awareness and tranquility. Personally, I find them as quiet corners offering respite, encouraging concentration and meditation. They also invite you to express gratitude, evaluate life, unpack worries and heavy thoughts of desperation. They foster a wide array of emotions, and they are the backdrop to major life events like weddings, baptisms, and funerals. On the daily basis, they are there to offer spiritual guidance as we navigate life. For these reasons and more, they carry huge significance to many.

Below is a collection of photos of places of worship I have visited in my travels.

When I started grad school (what seems like ages ago), I had a keen interest in public and cultural diplomacy between the Arab and Muslim world and the West. As religion plays a significant role in the shaping of perceptions, values, and norms, in my travels, I sought to visit places of worship with the intention of better understanding their communities. There are a lot of photos from my visits to Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Turkey.

In my travels, I had also visited Orthodox churches (in Egypt, Ethiopia, Romania, and at home in Washington--Eastern, Greek, and Coptic), which were primarily introduced to me by friends of those faiths--for their weddings, baptisms, and family events.

I visited Hindu and Sikh temples in Northern India, where I was also invited to share a meal with the faithful. In Mongolia, I visited a Buddhist temple for the first time. It was my first opportunity to learn beyond the basics and beyond what was on the surface. I also recall visiting Jewish synagogues in Mexico City and Cairo, places you wouldn't expect them to be, but as minorities, thriving and protected nonetheless and very much a past of their communities' history and heritage.

I hope to expand my scope and visit synagogues, temples, and monasteries. I will post photos as I go along. Spiritual enlightenment one trip at a time!