Blog 6

The church that I will be analyzing is the Basilica of Copacabana in La Paz, Bolivia. This church was built during the early 1600s. The church was built using a style from the Renaissance. It is located at the center of the main plaza of Copacabana city. Going into this place is a beautiful experience beyond the church. Next to the church, there is a veneration place full of candle lights that are very similar to the Grotto. The spiritual journey begins can even begin at this place and then continue inside the church. While the church is incredibly beautiful aesthetically, after doing the readings and learning how to analyze deeper than what is obvious, many details of this church come to light and make the experience of going to this church even more delightful.

Six important factors to analyze a church described in the readings include; spatial dynamic, symbolism, centering focus, and the aesthetic design/experience inside the church. In terms of spatial dynamics, this church was built with a lot of space between aisles. In fact, this church is the final destination for many processions that take place in the city due to its vast space. The entrance is long and you are directed towards to center of the church in which there is a beautiful altar made out of Gold for the Virgin. The space in this church is very inviting and it is what creates the playfulness of the church. Space invites the people to get really close to the altar and worship together. Kieckhefer describes a space in which “All things flow out from God and return to God: the worshiping soul turns to God in prayer and returns to into the world” (Kieckhefer, 27). This is especially true for this church since space literally creates something like a red carpet towards God and then that same path can be taken to leave the church back to the world.

Symbolism is also a key feature of this church. Symbolism can be seen especially on the altar. The golden altar covers the entire front wall. The main aspect of the altar is that it includes ornaments and decorations from different time periods since it was built. Every year, the ornaments are added to venerate the Virgin that is situated at the center of the altar. This use of ornaments from different time periods symbolizes the unity of past, present, and future. The community remains the same and has the same adoration and veneration towards God and the virgin since the 1600s until today. Those from the past and those from the future and felt and connected to those celebrating today. Furthermore, the church includes universal symbols such as the cross but also includes particular symbols such as a mestizo virgin representing and aligning with the history of the people of Copacabana. This type of symbolism is used in order to make the Copacabana worshipers feel a sense of familiarity with the Virgin and strengthen their adoration towards her.

The Virgin of Copacabana and Christ on the cross are the centering focus of this church. The straight path, all the ornaments, and other figures in the altars point back to the center of the altar which is the Virgin and Christ. A Kieckhefer says: “devotion to the saints need not distract or detract from devotion to Christ” (Kieckhefer, 84). In fact, the lighting of the other saints in the altars around Christ and the Virgin is darker than the light that illuminates both of them. The smaller altar figures around the Virgin and Christ serve as guides to the viewer to show the center of focus. Everything around points the viewer to focus their veneration on the Virgin and Christ.

Finally, the aesthetic and experience inside the church are also unique at the church of Copacabana. As mentioned, the church is designed to bring everyone together, in a communal way, to pray and venerate God through Christ and the Virgin. The church has a unique smell of incense that helps the people entering the church immerse into veneration. Furthermore, the church connects with a place to light candles and have a more intimate encounter with God. Experiencing the church of Copacabana includes visiting the place of the candles, venerating and praying next to the altar, and participating in a mass with the community. By taking part in this playful experience, one is able to connect and encounter God with the entire community and also more intimately.

(PICTURES OF THE CHURCH BELOW)