Shrine
Shrine is also used as a conventional translation of the Japanese Jinja.A shrine, from the Latin scrinium
(‘box'; also used as a desk, like the French bureau'') is originally a container, usually in precious materials, especially for a
relic and often a
cult image, and/or a holy or sacred place containing the same, dedicated towards a certain
deity,
saint, or similar religious figure. Secular meanings have developed by association, as noted below.
As distinguished from a
temple, a shrine usually houses a particular
relic or
cult image, which is the object of
worship or
veneration, or is constructed on a site which is thought to be particularly holy, as opposed to being placed for the convenience of worshippers. As such, shrines are associated with the practice of
pilgrimage.
Religious traditions which have founded public places of worship frequently called shrines include:
Christian denominations, such as
Anglicanism,
Roman Catholicism and
Orthodox Christianity (most
Protestant denominations have historically opposed
veneration of saints);
Hinduism;
Buddhism;
Shinto; and
Islam (mainly
Shiah).
Muslims have differing opinions on shrines and the
Intercession of saints:"And the mosques are for Allah (Alone): so invoke not anyone along with Allah"
Sura Al-Jinn:18 (72:18)). The only major mosques according to
Sunni Muslims are in the following order; 1-
Masjid al Haram 2-
Masjid al-Nabawi 3-
Al-Aqsa Mosque (A mosque on the holy
Temple Mount, which is a place visited by both Jewish and Christian pilgrims).
Shi'ism maintains a tradition of venerating late religious leaders (as there is no hierarchical church, the bond is very personal; but often a 'successor', sometimes even a son, maintains a following) and/or martyrs (usually at their grave); thus the
Persian word
imamzadeh. There are also sunnite equivalents, as among the ascetic
marabouts of
West Africa and the
Maghreb.
A Buddhist shrine is sometimes called a
stupa, requiring a symbolic
architecture.
In Shinto, small portable shrines are often carried in religious processions.
In the
Roman Catholic Code of
Canon law, canons 1230, 1231: "The term shrine means a church or other sacred place which, with the approval of the local
Ordinary, is by reason of special
devotion frequented by the faithful as
pilgrims. For a shrine to be described as national, the approval of the
Episcopal Conference is necessary. For it to be described as international, the approval of the
Holy See is required." Shrines are therefore normally churches which for historical or other reasons have become the destination of pilgrimages.
Another use of the term "shrine" in colloquial Catholic terminology is a niche or alcove in most - especially larger - churches used by Parishioners when praying privately in the church. They were also called
Devotional Altars, since they could look like small
Side Altars. Shrines were always centered on some image of Christ or a saint - for instance, a statue, painting, mural or mosaic, and may have had a
reredos behind them (without a
Tabernacle built in). However,
Mass would not be celebrated at them; they were simply used to aid or give a visual focus for prayers. Side altars were Mass could actually be celebrated were used in a similar way to shrines by parishioners. Side Altars were specifically dedicated to
The Virgin Mary,
Saint Joseph or other saints.
The word is also used to designate a small
altar in a home or place of business, or a room or item of furniture which is furnished with religious symbols and used for private worship, as was common in the
polytheist periods of Classical Antiquity. Devotions are generally to
ancestral or
tutelary spirits.
In the
United States, several landmarks are called "historic shrines." High ranking
Freemasons may join the
Shriners, a benevolent and charitable organization.
By extension the term
shrine has come to mean any place (or virtual cyber-place) dedicated completely to a particular person or subject.
*The
Shrine of Remembrance is a
war memorial in
Melbourne,
Victoria, Australia,
Australia*The
Shrine of Remembrance is a
war memorial in
Brisbane,
Queensland,
AustraliaRoman Catholic
The long tradition of veneration of saints has produced an impressive number of notable shrines, some of truly international renoun. There are separate articles on:
*
basilica*
Shrines to the Virgin MaryThe list of those considered at least of national importance comprizes none in Africa, but on all other continents:
Europe
One in
Austria:
*
Basilica Mariä Geburt in
Mariazell,
StyriaIn
Belgium:
* The shrine of Our Lady at
Scherpenheuvel in
FlandersTwo in
Croatia:
*minor basilica of the Mother
Mary of Bistrica*National Shrine of St. Joseph on Dubovac in
KarlovacOne in the
Czech Republic:
*Katedrála sv. Víta, Václava a Vojtěcha
Prague cathedral
Three in
France:
*minor basilica (upper chucrh) of Our Lady of
Lourdes*Cathedral of Our Lady in
Reims, wher the French kings were crowned
*National Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians in
NiceIn
Germany:
*
Shrine of the Three Kings at Cologne CathedralOne in
Ireland:
*the minor basilica of Our Lady of Knock Queen of Ireland [BVM] in
Knock, Galway, Connachta
Two
pontifical minor basilicas in
Italy:
* The shrine of the
Blessed Virgin Mary cathedral at
Loreto in
Italy*Pontifical Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua, conventual
One in
Latvia:
*minor baslica of BVM Assumption in
AglonaOne in
Malta:
*the minor basilica of National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta' Pinu [BVM Assumption] in
GħarbThree minor basilicas in
Poland:
*Shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary at
Czestochowa* Wawel Cathedral of St. Stanislaus and St. Wenceslaus in
Krakow* JHS Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki
The main shrine in
Portugal:
*Shrine of
Our Lady of Fatima in
FatimaThree minor basilicas in
Spain:
* The shrine of the Apostle
Saint James the Great at
Santiago de Compostela in
Spain, historically the third Catholic pilgrimage destination after Jeruzalem and Rome
*Santuario Nacional de la Gran Promesa [JHS Heart] in
Valladolid*Mare de Déu de Montserrat [BVM] in
TerrassaFour in the
UK:
*The shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary at
Walsingham (
England)
*The shrine of St
Edward the Confessor in
Westminster Abbey (England)
*The shrine of
St Winifred at
Holywell (
Wales)
*Welsh National Shrine of Our Lady of
Cardigan, Wales
North America
Seven in Canada.
One in Mexico:
*
minor Basílica of Nuestra Señora de
GuadalupeFifty five in the USA:
* The National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception in
Washington, DC in the
United States* The National Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church in
Royal Oak, MI.
* Shrine of the
North American Martyrs in
Auriesville, NY.
Central America
Two on Cuba
One in Nicaragua
One in Panama
South America
Asia
Two in
China.
Two in India:
*One international shrine, in Ernakulam " Angamaly, of the
Syro-Malabar rite:
*furthermore Shrine Vailankanni Basilica
Vailankanni in
IndiaFifteen in the
Philippines.
Two in
Sri Lanka.
Oceania
All four are in Australia, in only two major cities:
*in
Sydney, St. Mary's Cathedral, a
minor basilica*in
Melbourne: St. Anthony's National Shrine, National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and National Shrine of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
Shinto
Shinto temples —
jinja and
jingu— are conventionally called "shrines". A portable miniature version, called
mikoshi, is carried in shinto processions.See
:Category:Shinto shrines*
Tsukudo Shrine (in Tokyo)U.S. historic shrines
*
The Alamo*
Fort McHenry*
Saint Anne Parish and Shrine in
Fall River, Massachusetts*
Touro Synagogue in
Newport, Rhode Island*
Shriners (
Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine) used to call their masonic assembly places temple (akin to shrine), but recently rebaptised them shriner centre
*
Malaysian Chinese Gods(incomplete)
*
GigaCatholic*
Hari Parbat
