Nativity BVM twenty five years later
Nativity of Mary was a Slovak parish in Cleveland from 1903 to 1993. The buildings were sold (to what i surmise was an independent congregation that wanted a real church building and did not have one). Sometime, thereafter it was abandoned, and the scrappers have made off with everything they could get cash for quick. Parts of the church have collapsed. Here is a picture of the church on 6 June 2015, whether it was active then i do not know.
To-day. If you notice there are no door handles. A thorough mining of all copper and brass has been conducted. I did not know the church was open for urban exploration, until a few days ago. Thanks, a tip of the chapeau, to Glenn Petranek. Coming into the ruins of the church was saddening. This was a beautiful church. It is within the realm of possibility that this building will collapse soon, or be demolished. Here is a bene nota, within 25 years of a Catholic church being sold to a storefront, start up congregation, do not be surprised for the property value to be zero.
Here is the tub for the electrical panel. The breakers and wire are gone. To the right you can see a mural.
Saints Cyril and Methodius the Holy Brothers of Thessalonika, the Apostles to the Slavs, the bringers of Christianity and literacy to half the nations in Europe. A number of Slovak churches especially remember these two saints.
Our Lady of Fatima 1917, one of several Marian images on the ceiling
Saint Elizabeth, cousin to the Virgin Mary
Book on floor, opened to this page. Mostly hymnals on the floor, none in the pews.
stuffed Mickey Mouse on a ledge
metal on the cupola missing
I found so many images worth saving. It was 17 degrees Fahrenheit and overcast. The first few fotos were taken in the cloud of my frozen breath. I would like to go back for more shots. These ruins were created in a few years. The near by churches of St. Joseph, and St. Catharine are empty lots. The nearby church of St. Lawrence has been sold by Lennon, the former bishop. The last time i drove by there, the outside appearance had also deteriorated. Of the many churches recently sold, i see more ruins.
This is immeasurably sad. Although I attended St. Catherine's (north of Union Avenue) when we lived on Gibson Avenue, we always knew Nativity BVM to have been a well-maintained church. I know that all the years of Masses celebrated there, prayers raised to heaven, and sins removed in the confessionals make the church's history worth it, but it is still heartbreaking to know that the diocese does not care for this magnificent architectural beauty.
ReplyDeleteWell, i saw this with St. Catharine's:
Deletehttp://rustbeltvoice.blogspot.com/search/label/St.%20Catharine%27s
Its foolish to think that the Diocese will care for a building where nobody attends, supports, and lives. A building is only as meaningful if there are people using it and maintaining it.
ReplyDeleteAre these the original pews?
ReplyDelete'ell-o Ryanaldo,
DeleteNo they are not. The original pews were sold, by the diocese, after the church closed, to a church in Macomb Illinois. Some items are in St. Joan of Arc Chagrin Falls, St. Jude Elyria, and All Saints Cemetery Northfield.