10 am to 3 pm Monday
10 am to 9 pm Wednesday
About the Labyrinth
The labyrinth is an ancient,
sacred symbol found in many religious traditions throughout the
world. During the Middle Ages, labyrinths were prominent in numerous
cathedrals in Europe, where Christians walked floor labyrinths
or traced their fingers along the carved ridges of wall labyrinths.
For medieval Christians, the
labyrinth was a symbolic pilgrimage: instead of taking a costly
and dangerous pilgrimage to Jerusalem, worshipers made a
symbolic journey on a cathedral labyrinth. The best know of
these Christian labyrinths is in Chartres Cathedral in France,
which was built during the 13th century.
Today, modern pilgrims walk the
labyrinth as one of many ways to pray and meditate. The winding
path into the center and back out again is a metaphor for the
journeys of life and faith. Unlike a maze, which has many paths
and is a puzzle to solve, the labyrinth is a single path in and
out and is designed to quiet the mind for prayer and meditation.
Walking the Labyrinth at ELPC
Thousands have walked the
labyrinth at East Liberty Presbyterian Church since the
Labyrinth Ministry began here back in 1996. Today we have four
floor labyrinths, all on canvas. Three of the floor labyrinths
are the 11-circuit Chartres pattern and are 36 feet in diameter.
The fourth, in the Santa Rosa style with seven circuits or
paths, is 24 feet. This smaller labyrinth, available for walking
during special labyrinth events, was designed by Lea Goode in
1997 for the Angelica Center in Santa Rose, California.
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The 11-circuit
"Chartres pattern"
Labyrinth at ELPC
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Labyrinth Ministry
Worship, Music and The Arts
The 7-circuit
"Santa Rosa style"
Labyrinth
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During the summer months when the
weather permits, the labyrinth is placed outside in the beauty
and serenity of our Courtyard. Throughout the rest of the year
and in prohibitive weather during the summer, the labyrinth is
specially set up in our Social Hall or in the Gymnasium, to
reflect a calming and meditative ambience.
For information on other opportunities
offered through our
Labyrinth Ministry, visit:
Labyrinth
Ministry
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