Armagh

Monday we had the opportunity to visit the St. Patrick's Cathedrals in Armagh, one Church of Ireland and the other Roman Catholic. Our visit to Shankill and Falls on Saturday was a perfect precursor for this trip for a significant reason: it revealed how far this beautiful country has come. Being reminded of a day when, not so long ago, a very impenetrable wall existed between these two groups of people that greatly effected their day-to-day lives, I was able to recognize the incredible significance of being able to step inside a Catholic cathedral as a Protestant. I realized this well after we left. Both churches were built a long time ago as places where people could come to worship the Lord. I suppose we all subconsciously recognized that as we sat in each of the churches to reflect, contemplate, sketch, or pray. This country, like every other place in this world still has prejudices and hurts to recover from, but it was truly unbelievable to be able to sit and reflect on the beauty of these two churches, considering the past history.

As you will surely see by this picture of the Catholic Cathedral, it was absolutely breathtaking. I, and I know several others, remember walking in and actually forgetting to breathe. The architecture was phenomenal and had such intricate detail that we could do nothing but just stare at how someone could create that without the modern technology we possess today. It certainly made me stand in awe of a Heavenly God who made such minds and hands. He alone is worthy to be praised and worshiped.

~Jillian Carruth