2014 伦敦随笔（6) 古老的教堂

在伦敦，霹雳猫去探访了不同的教堂：到圣保罗教堂参加了晚间崇拜，到剑桥大学的官方教堂，大圣玛丽教堂，参加了主日崇拜，到国王学院礼拜堂参加下午崇拜，还有到西敏寺教堂参加了主日崇拜，晚间崇拜，和一年一度的祷告日。

1-圣保罗大教堂（St. Paul's Cathedral）是英国最大的教堂，也是世界第二大圆顶教堂，仅次于梵蒂冈的圣彼得大教堂。圣保罗教堂的晚间崇拜是Thomas Cranmer 大主教首先开始的；是一个从十五世纪开始持续至今全年都有的晚间崇拜活动。

圣保罗大教堂的穹顶：在耳语廊照了这张照片后，看到不许拍照的提示 :(


登到塔顶俯瞰伦敦城：






2-在剑桥，霹雳猫参加了大圣玛丽教堂的主日崇拜和国王学院礼拜堂的下午崇拜。主日讲道的内容是关于谦卑和聆听。霹雳猫再一次认识到要在神的面前和人的面前谦卑下来，要安静的思考，要多听，少说，要记住基督耶稣与我们同在并保守我们每一天的工作和生活。霹雳猫慕名参加国王学院教堂的下午崇拜是因为要听教堂诗班的演唱。国王学院诗班的圣诞节演唱，每年都通过无线电和电视向全世界广播。大圣玛丽教堂和国王学院礼拜堂都不允许照相，在剑桥的游记中会放些外景照片。

3-西敏寺教堂:




1045年英格兰国王“忏悔者”爱德华答应教皇去圣地朝圣却没有去，为了“赎罪”，他应教皇要求在此兴建新的教堂献给圣彼得， 教堂建成后不久，爱德华就去世了。因为对基督教信仰有无比的虔誠，爱德华被称作忏悔者，并在1161年被封圣。十月十八日是纪念爱德华的朝圣祷告日。下面是从西敏寺网站的转载：

St Edward the Confessor National Pilgrimage Saturday 18 October 2014 from 9.00 am

The annual pilgrimage day offers a unique opportunity to visit the Abbey along with other pilgrims to experience its beauty and space in a prayerful atmosphere. Most importantly, all our pilgrims will have the opportunity to pray at the Shrine of St Edward - the only shrine in this country which still contains the body of the saint.

All our pilgrims are offered a prayer tour which takes them into every part of the Abbey, its precincts and gardens - so you will see the stunning Lady Chapel, the Royal Tombs, Poet's Corner, the Chapter House, the Museum and the College Garden which now has a special herb garden where you can sit on a Camomile bench and take in the fragrant scents of the herbs and flowers. Activities for children will be offered in the Education Centre and around the Abbey and its precincts. School groups are very welcome.

During the course of the day priests will be on duty for individual spiritual counselling and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In addition there will be regular opportunities to renew Baptism Promises and to participate in Healing Liturgies with the Laying on of Hands and Anointing, a lecture will be given on the life of St Edward, and walking pilgrims will be welcomed with a foot washing rite.

霹雳猫有幸参加了这个活动。伴随着每一个脚步，霹雳猫都在祷告，感恩，并经历着神与她的同在。霹雳猫在西敏寺度过了平静，充实，而美好的一天。









这几个教堂建筑设计优雅、完美，内部静谧、安详。 会众们以音乐，诗歌，和祷告来敬拜神。听着优美的的管风琴，唱着圣歌，感到异常的平静和满足。