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Architecture
Design View of OLVN Church
Tác Giả Ðỗ Hùng
The Condition
sine-qua-non in the architectural design for Our Lady of Vietnam Church
in Washington DC is that bears features of a traditional Vietnamese
edifice as befit a landmark in the nation's Capital.
The preliminary sketch was the work of a Vietnamese architect, Huy
Nguyen. Frank Duane, an American serves as principal consultant for
the project. Father Peter Long, founding pastor of Our Lady of Vietnam
Parish, gave the final approval.
Our Lady of Vietnam is a square-shape building, boasting some 20,000
square feet, built on two tiers, altogether 81 feet high sprawling
over 4.3 acres.
The building is to be completed in two stages. The first tiers were
already done since August 28,1993. And the second and main tiers will
be finished in time for the Dedication, aimed for November 4th, 2000
In a general way, the elongated square lines are meant to suggest
the correctness of conscience, an interior rightness in disposition
in the heart of the beholder. The height of 81 feet is summated by
the Cross, the sign of Gods self giving love for human salvation,
and the gate leading to resurrection and the new Life.
The square foundation as well as the square-shaped gates are symbolic
of righteousness and just, while the curving lines are represented
by the roof, point to liberating transcendence and joyful harmony,
both elements are essential in Vietnamese spirituality.
The Portico with triple gates is meant to suggest the many triads
found in various religious traditions. They include first historical
triad: PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE; secondly the three theological virtues
of FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE; and also the three stages of the spiritual
Life: Purgative, Contemplative and Unitive. These religious triads
are happily in accord with Vietnamese traditional religion Emphasizing
the necessary balance and harmony between the three elements in human
existence: HEAVEN, EARTH and HUMANS.
Leading into the Church are five steps, a reminder to those who strive
for holiness, which is properly the realm of the divine, must first
strive to live fully as human beings, practicing the five Confucian
virtues: KINDNESS, LOYALTY, RESPECT, TRUST and INTELLIGENCE. To encounter
the Holy One through prayer, they must likewise overcome the five
obstacles as taught in Buddhism:
Inordinate pursuit of pleasure, anger, attachment, impurity, and desire
of a disorderly kind. Atop the triple gates stands a Cross as though
pointing upward to Heaven, accessible though the saving grace of Christ
and the eventually resurrection.
The sanctuary is constructed in the shape of the cross, again reflective
of a firm faith as a way of life; a willingness to offer oneself as
a sacrifice to witness GOD, modeling oneself after the heroic example
of Martyrs, who rather die than give up the faith. 33 remains of 117
Martyrs will be honored in this Church.
The twelve-tiers roof is symbolic of the twelve Apostles; protectors
of the parish community as well as its founders also represent the
tow-away love for God and neighbors.
The three-storied church bespeaks of the three cardinal Christian
virtues of FAITH, HOPE, and CHARITY, as well as faith mystery of the
Trinity: FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT.
At the summit of the church building, beneath the Cross-, is a Circle
represents an EGG, evocative of the mythical origin of the Vietnamese
Nation. The two hands cradling a map of Vietnam are the Virgin Mother
Mays hands, her fingers point upward to the Cross, representing Christ,
her Son and our Savior.
At first sight visitors may only see Our Lady of Vietnam Church as
simply as an Asian architecture but with deeper analysis
They can discover the particularly distinguish Vietnamese features.
The curving lines tend not to be as complex and less ornate as may
be found in buildings like in Korea, Japan, or China. Vietnamese lines
tend to be simpler and lighter. They suggest the Vietnamese spirit
of transcendence and lightness favored in spirituality, peaceful and
simple way of living. The lines also suggest inward joy and relaxation.
The curvature and square moreover represent HEAVEN (Roundness) and
EARTH (Square) in moral terms completeness and faithfulness. Right
relation with HEAVEN (The round above), with oneself (Interiority),
and with Four Corner (others) is paramount. The curved lined combined
with the long and square ones reveal our philosophical concept of
living with dignity and integrity in the world, and in complete harmony
with the surrounding environments.
The portico with three gates suggests a threshold vision of PRESENT,
PAST, and FUTURE. Vietnamese look back at the heroic past to emulate
the spirit displayed by their forbears; they look at the present and
strive to be worthy of those who have preceded them and show gratitude
to their ancestors. They also must look to the future, through the
path of progress, in order to respond to the needs of those who will
follow.
It may be noted that numerology plays an important role in Vietnamese
outlook, hence in architectural design. There is a popular belief
that there exists symbolic significance in number for human existence.
The odd seem to be favorites: Three, Five, Seven, etc. They are considered
to be on the Yang side, indicating the heroic spirit of the past.
Hence in architecture design, the three stories, each side has seven
windows, ach window in turn consists of three-square panes. The triads
are important, as the first Heaven, Earth and Human already mentioned;
the three principal Asian religion: Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism,
the three relations: Ruler-Subject, Father-Son, Husband-Wife, etc
The entire aesthetically beautiful structure highlights the intertwined
harmony between religion and life, heaven and earth.
The Wish is to leave a gift to posterity, and architectural heritage,
a worthy contribution to the multiethnic legacy of the Catholic Church
in America and Washington, D.C. alike.
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