.... of churches

If you visit Europe, either east or west, you are bound to come across churches upon churches. Similarly your China's itinerary will be dotted with temples upon temples of all sizes and history.

This paricular church that Yours Sincerely ( Y S ) was awed by is located in the town square in Krakow, Poland It is St.Mary's. The original was destroyed by the Tartars in the 13th century. Well, invading forces always have the penchant to either loot, rape or destroy.

The present St Mary's was rebuilt in 1397 and it has a new tower added. The two towers, built by two competing brothers, are of different heights. If you gaze at this godly structure for a long, long time over one or two cups of coffee from the numerous outdoor cafes in the square, you can as Y S could, awe at the GREATNESS of our ALMIGHTY FATHER.


Similarly very much closer to home, the St Anne Church of Bukit Mertajam holds a very special place in Y S' heart. It is not a big church, just able to comfortably hold about 100 congregation, but it has the aura of the presence of God as of many godly places. Standing proudly on a hillock, this church commands a bird-eye view of the surroundings. The slope behind the church will lead you about 10 stations of crosses and a grotto that will mellow your soul and make you prayerful.

Her sister's church, a modern super structure of a few million ringgits, standing by her side does not ooze out that holiness as she does. So much for old churches.

Y S likes to pray in this old church. Or course, God is Omnipresent but praying in this old church some how gives you that tap on the shoulder. That assurance that He listens.


This is the hushed interior of St Mary. It is awesomely vibrant with colours. Every nook and corner is carved or gold plated and the stained windows are a sight to behold. The interior gives you an opulence of the elite of Europe in the days of old. We can only thank GOD that communism did not destroy such treasures.

This is the highlight of the St Mary's church - the 15th century wooden altar piece designed by Wit Stwosz. The three piece of panels have 200 carved and painted figures of Medieval life. They are folded into one piece and will open up slowly accompanied by Gregorian chants to show their grandeur before mass. It is another sight to behold !

BUT THE SAD FACT - On the day YS visited, there were more tourists waiting impatiently and armed with cameras to shoot the scene, than worshipers in the congregation. Two thirds of the church was cordoned off for tourists ! Very Sad !!!


This is one of the towers of St Mary. A lone trumpeter appears on each direction of the tower, north, east, south and west hourly and plays "Hejnal Mariacki." The sound echoes through the town square and everyone stops in the midst of whatever they are doing to appreciate.

Very quaint place.

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