From the soaring spire of a Gothic cathedral to the geometric tilework of a mosque, from the swastika-adorned pillars of a Hindu temple to the simple wooden cross on a rural chapel-the cross is one of humanity's most enduring and misunderstood symbols. This book takes you on a respectful, eye-opening journey across faiths and centuries, revealing how the cross shape has been inscribed into the very stones of sacred buildings around the world. You will learn to read the cruciform floor plans of churches, the subtle cross motifs in Islamic arabesques, the cosmic meaning of the swastika in Hindu and Buddhist architecture, and the unexpected ways synagogues and indigenous sacred spaces engage with this universal form. Rich with architectural insight and interfaith understanding, this volume transforms the way you see the buildings of your own community and far beyond. Part of The Gracehollow Sacred Library.

About the author

Thomas Ambrose Vale writes for The Gracehollow Sacred Library.