Cathedral of St. John the Divine NYC Christmas Eve

[Kapitanleutnant777]

Thought St. Pauls in London was the largest cathedral in the world with St. Peters being classified a Basilica.... No?

[a55b47]

@Kapitanleutnant777 St. Peters is a huge building -- probably larger in volume than any other religious edifice. But it is indeed classified as a basilica. I've always heard St. John the D referred to as the world's largest cathedral -- but then there's that building in Omasoukro (sp?), Ivory Coast that's the world's largest something-other. I don't think it qualifies as a cathedral because there's no cathedral chair there (or much of anything else, for that matter)

[cyorgan]

lol@SteelersfanHawaii. Btw. the organ is actually IV/141. Quimby did a phenomenal job restoring it.

[steelersfanhawaii]

I heard rumors the nave of St John the Divine is 1/10 of a mile long, anybody can validate that number?

[a55b47]

@steelersfanhawaii Well, I've heard 600 feet -- which would make it in that range. I use the city block comparison, but that's obviously somewhat nebulous ;-) Or, to use another reference point, the Washington Monument is 555 feet high, so you could lay it down in the nave -- if you were so inclined.

[steelersfanhawaii]

@a55b47 tee up a golf ball at the front entrance, you probably would need at least a 4-iron to reach the green (oops, the altar), lol

[adrianmusic2009]

BEAUTIFUL !!

[junkification]

You should look into "Procession of the Ghouls" live at St. Johns the Divine this Halloween, or watch videos of last year's ritual on YouTube!

Resembles the macabre ceremonial witchcraft events I have attended during fall solstice, with all the dark neopagan vibes a person could want to properly celebrate our Hallowed Holiday of the Damned!

Who ever said going to church wasn't wickedly fun?!

[spidered1]

Can't be a Gothic cathedral because it is too modern - may be of the Gothic style. Largest in what way? Height? Floor area? Volume? People capacity? It isn't the largest in all of these, and is certainly not the most beautiful. Many of the modern sculptures are disturbing to say the least. Religious structures should not be about records or boasting that 'We have the biggest!" Enjoy it or worship in it, but God does not like boastful people!

[MandyJMaddison]

@spidered1 It is properly described as Gothic Revival.

[cyorgan]

@spidered1 Strongly disagree with that. It has chapels around the grand choir and the high altar in true Gothic architecture w/ crypt. Please be reminded that SJD was originally intended to be a landmark structure. In fact, one proposal, which came close to the current product, called for a cathedral with 600 ft. high ceilings, a 1200 foot steeple, a "great organ", and organs in the side chapels. They came close with a IV/141 Skinner as the "great organ" with two II/12 Skinners in side chapels.

[Mejeanpierre]

Can I hear more of David Pizarro? I met him in Germany about 1990.

[a55b47]

@Mejeanpierre Sorry, this is all I have. I don't think her recorded very much.

[Belldavid1000]

I guess when you say your the largest it ivites tape measures. It's hard to be on top. Sorry I couldn't help it. We are talking about a church structure, right?

I found the line "St. John the Unfinished" the most creative statement. The Church though is never finished, so I've been told. Considering Cathedrals in Europe took hundreds of yrs to build,we are really ahead of time with St. John the Divine

My issue with St.JD is it went from gothic to Norman. ?? Why?

[ljlmusic]

@Belldavid1000 Actually, St. JD went the reverse: it started in Norman style (chancel/choir was built first), then the design was changed to Gothic style for the nave and transepts. I'm not sure why that decision was made, but the transepts and nave definitely were built AFTER the choir, chancel, and chapels.

[KatastrophicKelley]

Im so excited to sing in this cathedral in the upcoming month, its going to be magical :)

[speedy29676]

In English this ancient hymn is : Holy God, Holy Almighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. The Gospel is processed into the altar area. If a bishop is present, his procession occurs at this time also from the nave into the altar.

[radketim]

It's big, not the world's largest though. That goes to St. Peter's

[a55b47]

@radketim It depends on terminology. St. Peter's is a basilica, not a cathedral. It's a lot like trying to describe the world's largest pipe organ. Do we go with Wanamaker's, which all (or mostly all) functions, or Atlantic City, which has more pipes -- most of which don't function? I suppose we could say St. Peter's is the "world's largest religious edifice." ;-)

[radketim]

@a55b47 Apparently its the largest gothic cathedral.

[livzdave]

@radketim St. John The Divine is the largest Cathedral in the world - St. Peters in Rome is the largest Basilica in the world, and the largest church in the world.

[trompettechamade1]

Actually, St. Peter's is not a cathedral, but a Basilica Major (since it is the largest church in the world, shouldn't it be a Basilica Maximus?:-)). Additionally, 2 other cathedrals, Seville and Milan, claim more floor area, and have taller naves, than St. John the unfinished! :-) If we accept those figures (and there are some major books on Gothic churches that do), it would make St. John's the 4th largest church, 3rd largest cathedral, in the world. The National Cathedral would then be #7.

[Rowman529]

This cathedral will be completed, but not necessarily in our time. Many of the cathedrals in Eruope were completed hundreds of years after they were started. consider what was done over the last ten years!

[codeman2008]

I like the 'Help Complete the Cathedral' flier. Sadly I don't think it's ever going to happen.

[silverstartrucker]

Lovely stereo sound

[FromHolbergsTime]

A grand recording of a beautiful spectacle combining power, majesty and heights of glory rarely achieved except in the vast acoustic space of such a renowned cathedral. Richard Westenburg conducts the choir with great precision and passion on this 1975 release. Westenburg was the founder and director of the famed group Musica Sacra of New York. David Pizarro, the organist and conductor of the cathedral boy's choir featured here, once studied with Marcel Dupre. Such splendor is radiant!

[pjdonagh]

Thank you....splendid!!!