The Newtown Pentacle

Wednesday

– photo by Mitch Waxman

St. Paul Cathedral’s construction, here in Pittsburgh, was completed in 1906. The cathedral was designed by the architectural team of Egan and Prindeville, in the Gothic Revival Style and its design was inspired by Germany’s Cologne Cathedral. It’s the seat of the Pittsburgh Diocese, administered by its resident Bishop – the Most Rev. David A. Zubic, and St. Paul Cathedral is the mother church of all of the Catholic parishes in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

The top of its spires are 247 feet high, its internal chapel seats 2,600 people, and it’s one of the anchors of the Schenley Farms historic district. It’s quite a church building.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

One strode up to the place, whose main entrance doors were open. As is my habit, when passing by the holy water thingamabob – after entering the chapel section within – I stuck a fingertip into the consecrated fluid, and since nothing adverse occurred one continued on. The people who run this place dress like wizards, so you gotta check.

A student was practicing their art on the pipe organ within, which lent a certain atmosphere to the entry. After my eyes adjusted from the bright sunlight without…

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Wow. Just, wow.

There were a couple of attendants preparing the place for an upcoming mass, and an academic instructor was talking on a two way radio and offering critique to that student organist from down in one of the pews, but other than them – I was there by myself in this ‘sacred space.’

– photo by Mitch Waxman

I affixed a wide angle lens to my camera, and secured that device onto the small platypod mount which I always carry on these sorts of adventures. I set the camera up for longish exposures, of 5-6 seconds, and got busy.

What do you Goyem call this location – is it a pulpit, or an altar, or what? I once referred to a similar ritual focus spot found at Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC’s Soho as a stage – to a Monsignor – which won me a ‘tsk, tsk’ from the prelate.

I confess my ignorance when it occurs, something which I consider as being one of my better traits – a ray of light amongst all the horrible habits and negativity which causes everybody to hate me, eventually.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Looking back towards the entrance, you can see the pipe organ setup in the center of the shot. The original Pipe Organ at St. Paul was donated by Andrew Carnegie, but that unit was replaced in 1962.

As mentioned, a student organist was practicing their craft, and being instructed via radio from the pews. Devotional music was thereby bouncing around off of the walls and it was quite a lovely experience.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

One of the attendants informed me that they needed to begin preparing the Cathedral for a scheduled ceremony, and gave me a deadline as far as how long I could continue shooting. The fellow was actually quite gracious, pointing out several small details for my consideration.

This is definitively a location I’m going to return to, here in Pittsburgh’s Oakland section. I will also say it again – WOW!

Back tomorrow.

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