Monreale Cathedral: One of the Great Glories of Christendom

Few churches can rival the stunning beauty of the Cathedral of Monreale, which is located in the Sicilian region of Italy. Particularly impressive are the Byzantine style mosaics, and in particular the image of Christ in the apse.

(Image by Bernhard J. Scheuvens)



"...just as the congregation in the synagogue looked together toward Jerusalem, so in the Christian liturgy the congregation looked together "toward the Lord".... They did not close themselves into a circle; they did not gaze at one another; but as the pilgrim People of God they set off for the Oriens, for the Christ who comes to meet us..."

-- Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, The Spirit of the Liturgy