July
14, 2014
I am so glad that Germany
won the championship of World Cup last night.
Today I joined a walking
tour about Amsterdam. The tour guide, Kor, is a real funny guide. He liked an
actor when he guided us around the center of Amsterdam. It made this tour
become had more fun. What I am interesting is there are two churches in
Amsterdam, which were named old church and new church. The reason why they made
me so curious is about their name.
Old Church the oldest
building and oldest parish church in Amsterdam, which was founded ca. 1213 and
consecrated in 1306 by the bishop of Utrecht with Saint Nicolas as its patron
saint. After the Reformation in 1578 it became a Calvinist church, which it
remains today. In mid-March each year, Catholics arrive at the old church celebrate
the "Miracle of Amsterdam” that occurred in 1345. After taking communion,
a dying man vomited the Host. When his vomit was thrown into a fire, the Host
did not burn and was proclaimed a miracle. The Host was put in a chest and
installed at the old church; however, it disappeared during the Reformation. Today,
the Old Church is a center for both religious and cultural activities and can
be rented for presentations, receptions and dinner parties. Among the events
hosted is the prestigious annual World Press Photo awards ceremony.
After the Old Church grew
too small for the expanding population of the town, the bishop of Utrecht in
1408 gave permission to build a second parish church. The New Church was
consecrated to St. Mary and St. Catharine. The New Church, today, is no longer
used for church services but is used as an exhibition space. It is also used
for organ recitals. There is a cafe in one of the buildings attached to the
church that has an entrance to the church. There is a museum store inside the
entrance that sells postcards, books, and gifts having to do with the church
and its exhibitions.
