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Cathedral of Saint Sebastian of Rio de Janeiro

The Cathedral of Saint Sebastian of Rio de Janeiro

 (also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral)

 is one of the ugliest churches ever built.

 

It's a cone shaped, massive gray building that reminds me of a nuclear plant.

 

But when you get inside everyting changes: a heavenly light comes from the four colorful stained glass windows, extended on the walls in the four cardinals from the bottom till the top of the Cathedral.

 

You don't have to be religious to feel involved by a peaceful atmosphere.

I'm atheist myself, but I always find a way to spend some time wandering inside it,

enjoying the light that flows from North, South, East, West.
COMMENTS
Liliana said at 8:35 p.m. on Oct 23, 2007:
Siempre que nés fotos de esa catedral digo lo mismo:¿Cómo no fui? Tu foto de la mano con la paloma, a contraluz, es un símbolo perfecto. Interesante, en medio de "tanta cor"...
Eduardo.affonso said at 8:40 p.m. on Oct 23, 2007:
Sempre que vejo turistas entrando nesta catedral, me pergunto "o que é que vêm fazer aqui?". É que a construção é tão horrorosa por fora que eu teria vergonha de mostrá-la a quem quer que seja. No entanto, há sempre filas de ônibus na porta, e hordas de turistas que, tão logo entram, se esquecem da impressão inicial. Além do mais, a construção está inacabada e creio que assim permanecerá pelos séculos dos séculos, amém.
Pkeener said at 7:50 a.m. on Oct 24, 2007:
edu, i really like your framing on all of these. I love the picture within a picture and the point of view from behind the statue. My favorite is #8. very peaceful. most of the shots are very disturbing to me.
DEE-Trow said at 8:43 a.m. on Oct 24, 2007:
Eduardo, this is truly amazing. I love how you took the pictures and the way you set it all up. Well done!
Marranei said at 8:54 a.m. on Oct 24, 2007:
Edu, tbm adoro essa catedral! Já trabalhei com turistas e dempre que dava, os levava a ela. E é sempre uma boa surpresa pq, de fato, ningém dá nada por ela qdo vista do lado de fora... eu tbm tenho umas fotos dela, quem sabe monto um Tabblo complementar... Parabéns!
Eduardo.affonso said at 9:13 a.m. on Oct 24, 2007:
PAM: Disturbing? Why?

DEE: Thanks. I do like the "chiaroscuro" of this church, the contrast between gray and color (maybe a metaphora for death and rebirth?).

AGNES: Já estou aguardando o seu tabblo. Não sei o que é pior nesta catedral, se o tronco de cone em si ou o seu entorno, totalmente abandonado. Deixo sempre eu carro ali, quando vou à cidade, e é vergonhoso ver aquele terreno baldio bem na Av. Chile. Mas o que importa é que basta entrar naquele monstrengo que a gente esquece o mundo lá fora. Este é, na verdade, o grande charme de qualquer igreja.
Liliana said at 4:04 p.m. on Oct 24, 2007:
Je,je, yo también me pregunté lo mismo frente al comentario "rojo" (¡¡hablo en clave!!).
Geddon22 said at 5:08 p.m. on Oct 24, 2007:
Holy moly these are wonderful. I really like the way you've framed the crucifix and various parts of it against that magnificent backround. It's a little overwhelming, not unlike what I sometimes feel in these majestic holy places. And that silhouette is perfect too.
Decoy said at 6:05 p.m. on Oct 24, 2007:
I can understand why you go here. I love the feeling cathedrals gives me, even though I'm a atheist too. I like the shots with depths, with the hands of the statue in front. They really gives me a feeling of why I like Cathedrals. Lovely tabblo, and thanks for the tour!
Pkeener said at 6:18 p.m. on Oct 24, 2007:
the photos make me dizzy and it gives me vertigo..that's why its disturbing. also the way you framed the staues hands looks kinda creepy. sorry. just want to stay honest. it soesn't mean yourphotography and the tabblo are not excellent. its just my interpretation
Leftofcenter said at 8:59 p.m. on Oct 24, 2007:
amazing (no, I mean it!) yes vertigo like P- said (it's difficult to be original in tabblo comments..) it's feels like the Second Coming, the heights, the cropping all contribute to mystery, yes maybe a little creepy.
Leftofcenter said at 9:00 p.m. on Oct 24, 2007:
corr: it feels
Eduardo.affonso said at 11:51 a.m. on Oct 25, 2007:
LILIANA: Ok, vc se perguntou o mesmo - e obteve alguma resposta? je je

CRISTINA: This is not a church like the others. It's a bit dark (which enhances the power of the stained glass windows) and massive (the architect who designed it was not pretty fond of lightness). But it's perfect for meditation.

ANNA: A good friend of mine once told me atheists are closer to God than those who believe, because they discharge intermediaries: there's nothing between them and the deity. Maybe that's why we can enjoy cathedrals (or even religious rituals) in a different way: I like the music, the scenery, the poetry of the psalms, the mise-en-scène, because of their beauty, not because of their (supposed) meaning.

PAM: I do understand what you mean. Churches in general, and cathedrals in particular, tend to be dramatic, powerful. They are stages where the same play has been performed for centuries.

ANNELIES: This cathedral is really vertinigous. Don't these light squares (holes in the wall) look (sound) like a mantra?
Liliana said at 9:17 p.m. on Oct 26, 2007:
¡¡Je,je bis!!
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