I give you the Church of the Transfiguration, Kizhi, Russia.

While I maintain that buildings are not what makes the Church, this is a most beautiful structure. There has always been something fascinating in the beauty of man’s creations seeking to honor the Creator with the work of their hands.

I came across it while reading up on the history of Christianity in Russia. Meditate on the following:

The early period of Russian church history - the Kievan era, extending from 988 to the early thirteenth century- has a particularly attractive character. Among its most striking features is a ‘kenotic’ quality, a spirit of loving compassion and humility. The ancient sources contrast the savagery of Vladimir prior to his conversion with his gentleness as a Christian, shown for example in his refusal to employ capital punishment. After his death in 1015, two of his sons, Boris and Gleb, declined to protect themselves against the attacks of their elder brother; choosing the path of non-resistance, they allowed themselves to be killed rather than shed the blood of others in self-defense.¹

Powerful and challenging

1. The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity pp.152-153. [↩]