Saturday, January 12, 2019

And now...Sedona!



The weather was a bit dreary, and quite frankly,
more cloud cover than I would have liked for photography.


But ohhh...the colors of this desert oasis!


Our day began at the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park.
"A Stupa is one of the oldest forms of sacred architecture on earth, dating back to the time of the Buddha, 
26oo years ago."
They are quite rare here in the Western hemisphere 
and generally found in the East.
"A Stupa is considered to be the living presence of the Buddha 
and as such represents the Mind of Enlightenment...
Their sole purpose is to bring benefit for all living beings,
and the mystical accounts of the healing powers of stupas
are well documented."


Prayer flags were strung from the Stupa itself, 
to surrounding trees.


This statue of the Buddha sits on a low hill 
overlooking the Stupa.


I can't help but get "Red Rock Fever" whenever I'm in Sedona...
and even going through my photos!
Red Rock Fever is the feeling of wanting to drop everything
and move to Sedona!


Can you blame me?


We missed the cactus flowering season...
but what's left is certainly interesting!


The Chapel of the Holy Cross is one of the most beautiful
and serene I've ever seen.  As you can see, it is quite small,
yet still magnificent...built in the buttes of Sedona.

Marguerite Brunswig Staude, a local Arizonan rancher and sculptor was inspired by the Empire State Building in 1932.
She first attempted to build the chapel in Budapest, Hungary,
but WWII broke out and halted the project.
She later decided to build it in Sedona and selected architect
August K. Strotz to construct the chapel.
The chapel was completed in 1956, took 18 months to complete,
and cost $300,000.
Arizonans voted it as one of the Seven Man-Made Wonders of Arizona in 2007. 


The altar is graced by this extraordinarily beautiful
crucifix.
 

This small chapel really is a stunning bit of architecture 
and you can't help but feel the magnificence of God
when there.



To visit more little corners of the world, click on the images below...






16 comments:

  1. I think I'd like Sedona, but I've never been. Lovely pictures!

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  2. So great scenes.
    I am interesting in the cactus photo.
    Maybe, they are eaten by someone..., But, ... Oh, So vitality!

    PS; A Happy New Year! (Too late... ? :))

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    Replies
    1. The flowers and buds might be edible! Some cactus are good sources of water if you're stranded in the desert!

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  3. I've been to Sedona several times, but you've captured images that make it new for me. That crucifix is magnificent!

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  4. It's certainly it's own kind of beauty!

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  5. this chapel is astounding ? who is the architect ?

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  6. Is the last photo the back of that chapel?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes...on the inside of the windows is the crucifix.

      Delete

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