Building Resources

Here are some resources I’ve come across in the process of trying to build an Orthodox Church.   If you have more that I should add here, let me know. ()

Here are some recommended general reading and listening for learning about Orthodox Church architecture and beauty.

• Here’s a great lecture by Bishop Alexis on Beauty in Church Architecture.  This is my  recommended starting point.
• Here are some articles by Andrew Gould published in the Road to Emmeaus journal.
  • On Earth as it is in Heaven.
  • Reflecting the Heavenly Jerusalem.
• Here’s a nice summary of Orthodox architecture principals by Aiden Hart, and he has related articles on his website here.
• There are many good articles about church architecture in the Orthodox Arts Journal architecture section.   Such as on acoustical considerations, or on lighting design.  Here is a 12 part series on all the liturgical arts combined.
• A nice video tour of the inside of St. Andrew’s Orthodox Church with Fr Josiah Trennem and Jonathan Pageau.
• A good article in First Things on the connection of the divine and architecture.

Architects:  Here are some people who specialize in Orthodox Church design.

• Andrew Gould, his website is https://newworldbyzantine.com/
• Bob Latsko, his website is https://www.orthodoxchurchdesigns.com/.
• Mirela Tudora

Deeper dive:   For a deeper understanding of beauty in design and patterns and human interactions with designs and beauty leading to the divine and so forth…

• The Ethics of Beauty, by Timothy Patitsas, is a fantastic read, but it’s a hefty slog.   At least you’ll want to read chapter 6: The Mystical Architect.
• If you read that, you’ll learn about Christopher Alexander and his “Pattern Language”.  We found his writings to be BEYOND helpful when discussing (and figuring out HOW to discuss) these issues.   You’ll want to read his book, A Timeless Way of Building, as well as A Pattern Language.  I’ve found PDFs of both and uploaded them here.
• Youtube interview with Jonathan Pageau and Andrew Gould about Beauty and Meaning today.

Collections of plans and pictures and renderings of Orthodox Churches being built.

• See pictures of Andrew Gould’s building being constructed at Holy Cross Monastery in West Virginia
• See what we’re planning at Holy Ascension (Albion, MI).
• Renderings of the Church being built in Denton, TX by Andrew G.
• Some renderings from a church being planned in Ashton OR.