Paradise and Heaven – Midrand’s grand places of worship
Sat Feb 24, 10:00 - Sat Feb 24, 12:30
Church of St Sergius of Radonezh
ABOUT
We’ve all seen the golden domes and soaring spires from the N1 highway. Now, join us for an exclusive tour inside Midrand’s two most impressive places of worship.
We begin our exploration at the Church of St Sergius of Radonezh, a stunning structure built in the ornate Russian Orthodox style designed to reflect the spiritual wealth of this ancient cultural tradition.
The Rev. Father Daniel Lugovoy will show us around as we discover more about the church’s graceful proportions, natural light, 5 golden cupolas, six round towers, and very fine antique icons.
Then, it’s back into our cars as we drive in convoy to the Nizamiye Kulliyes Mosque, a scaled down replica of the magnificent Selimiye Mosque of Erdine, a Turkish city on the Bulgarian border. Celebrating the heritage of the great Ottoman architect Sinan, this splendid mosque with its 4 tall minarets is the largest in the southern hemisphere. Many of the building’s elements come from Turkey, including the thousands of beautiful tiles.
Just to stand in the centre of the mosque is a breathtaking experience, surrounded by light seeping in through the many windows, reflecting on the shades of blue and turquoise Turkish tiles.
After the tour, you are welcome to stay on and join us for a traditional Turkish lunch at the mosque’s renowned restaurant (for your own account).
Please dress conservatively - ladies should be well covered with no bare shoulders and will be expected to cover heads and shoulders in certain areas (a large scarf or pashmina will do), gentlemen should wear long trousers, and please bear in mind that shoes have to be removed before entering the mosque.