Sacred architecture and the cosmos

H/T: New Liturgical Movement

A phenomenally enjoyable and illuminating set of videos are available for viewing at the Catholic University of America Architecture Symposium 2010. To take just the first video, Denis McNamara presents an approach to church architecture that would be consonant with the understanding of any Eastern Christian. This is due in no small part to the fact that he is a doctor of architectural history with an understanding of how people have worshipped from pre-Christian times to today. He may quote from a book written by Pope Benedict, but he notes that those ideas are borrowed from the Fathers (e.g. St. Gregory the Great) quite extensively. If you have the time to give your undivided attention for an hour or so I recommend a comfortable chair, some iced tea, and a notepad.