“…and some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations.” (Luke 21:5)

“…and some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations.” (Luke 21:5)

The adornment of churches, making them beautiful, and having sacred items made of gold, silver, and/or decorated with jewels is mankind’s way of showing the intrinsic value and “worth” we place on God. Remember that the word worship derives from “worth-ship.” When Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem, “He overlaid the inside with pure gold. He paneled the main hall with juniper and covered it with fine gold and decorated it with palm tree and chain designs. He adorned the temple with precious stones. And the gold he used was gold of Parvaim. He overlaid the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls and doors of the temple with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.” (2nd Chronicles 3:4-7)

Fr. John