Barcelona, evangelists' towers completed at Sagrada Familia

After 140 years since the beginning of its construction, Barcelona ’s iconic and unmistakable Sagrada Familia basilica has seen the four towers of the evangelists completed with the installation at the top of those dedicated to Matthew and John of a bust of an angel and an eagle, symbols of the two evangelists, and illuminated together for the first time in a solemn ceremony. Archbishop Juan José Omella in fact blessed the architectural complex famously designed by Antoni Gaudí at the conclusion of this very important moment in its construction. The celebration presided over by the apostolic nuncio of Spain and Andorra, Monsignor Bernardito Auza, was attended by some 2,000 faithful. There are now 13 completed towers out of a total of 18. “In all the work of the Sagrada Família, a relationship between architectural form and symbolism is evident,” explains the note from the Catalan Archdiocese, such that, “the four towers inaugurated this year show the world the importance of the Gospels.” It is a true “catechesis pointing to the four cardinal points: St. Luke oriented to the north, St. Matthew to the south, St. Mark to the west and St. John to the east.” Architect Gaudi connoted each tower with the four symbols that Christian tradition has attributed to the evangelists: John with the eagle; Luke with the ox; Mark with the lion; and Matthew with the angel.

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The Sagradaers of the evangelists

Seeing now the four towers completed all the way through (finished construction in September) they now form an integral part of the Barcelona skyline without the cranes hitherto present for their construction. Lights during the night illuminate the four summits, which reach a height of 135 meters, and make for a spectacular atmosphere for those watching even from far away. Work to complete the eclectic and mammoth, one-of-a-kind work, the child of Antoni Gaudî’s genius, continues but undoubtedly this represents a symbolic achievement that deserved to be celebrated.

The other two towers for Evangelists Luke and Mark, already completed last year, have at their tops an ox and a lion. All figures are the work of sculptor Xavier Medina-Campeny. Once the entire architectural complex is completed, which is scheduled to be finished in 2026 (100 years after the death of the artist who conceived it: work began slowly and when Gaudi died in 1926, it is estimated that only 10 to 15 percent of the total was completed), these towers will be the third tallest in the church.

The tower dedicated to Jesus Christ will be topped by a giant cross and will have a height of 170 meters making the building the tallest place of worship in the world: this tower is also scheduled for completion in 2026. The Christ Spire will be in the center surrounded by the 4 of the Evangelists symbolizing that the four proclaimed the Christian message to every part of the world.

Of towers, the spires, in all Gaudî thought of 18 where in addition to the Evangelists and Christ the reference was to the 12 apostles and Our Lady. Because of its uniqueness both inside and out, moving from neo-Gothic to Art Nouveau style with extensive liberties taken ahead of its time, it is visited by more than 4 million tourists a year and has been a UNESCO heritage site since 1984.

Barcelona, evangelists' towers completed at Sagrada Familia

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