DISCUSS THE RELATIONSHIP between SPIRITUALITY AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. ?

The Gothic cathedral was designed to be an imaginative replica of the Heavenly City of Jerusalem. This symbolism was not a Gothic invention (had roots in early Christianity) but was only fully realized in this period.The men of the Gothic age visualized Heaven as a piece of heavenly architecture. Today these cathedrals look bare and grey but they once had many painted elements. A few blue vaults survive studded with stars representing the canopy of heaven (San Chapelle, Paris) Read paragraph beginning Gothic Cathedrals at http://tribes.tribe.net/tradicio/thread/4c0c1894-cf1f-4647-9be9-fa61db320b77 Their is an overall impression of vertically of reaching for the heavens and of light - in Gothic architecture characterized by pointed arches, great expanses of glass, ribbed vaults, soaring spires and towers, flying buttresses. http://www.osv.com/TCANav/TCAQuestionoftheDay/Nov26302007/tabid/4895/Default.aspx Read briefly about Abbot Sugar and GArch, http://www.newyorkcarver.com/stainedglass.htm And heathen origins of gargolyes at http://www.newyorkcarver.com/gargoyles.htm