[Dajjal]

ANANOVA 9/16/02

New church at Fatima shrine

A new church with seating for 9,000 people is to be built at a Roman Catholic shrine where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared.

Thousands attend mass every week at Fatima in Portugal even though the present church seats just 900.

Three young shepherd children said the Virgin Mary revealed secrets to them there in 1917.

The church, which will be circular, is to cost about 45 million euros (£28.25 million), a statement said. It is expected to open within three years.

The project was awarded to Greek architectural company Tombazis, based in Athens, the Fatima authorities said.

Roughly 10,000 people regularly attend Sunday Mass at the shrine but the current basilica's capacity is just 900. Most worshippers stand outside.

Each year hundreds of thousands of people visit the shrine at Fatima, a town of 8,000 people lying 110 kilometres (about 70 miles) north of Lisbon.

More than 100,000 people from dozens of countries attend the annual May 13 commemorations, and more than 1 million have attended during papal visits.

Story filed: 13:24 Monday 16th September 2002
Copyright © 2002 Ananova Ltd

[Polycarp]

I think you're being too harsh. I think it resembles some kind of new age country music instrument, not a griddle...

[Dajjal]

Ping.

Could someone please post the photo? Thanks!

BTW, I've tried following the instructions for posting a photo, but couldn't quite get it right. This was all that happened. What did I do wrong?

[Dajjal]

Could someone please post these photos of the current Basilica of the Rosay at Fatima?

Pilgrims at the Basilica

Exterior view

Basilica and plaza

Interior view

Basilica at Night

[Dajjal]

Procession to Basilica

[Theresa]

That is wierd looking! Very strange. OTOH the current shrine looks pretty ramshackle. That tower is not the best looking one I have ever seen. It looks like it's about to cruble or it has moisture damage. It needs a good sandblasting or something. But if I had my druthers I'd pick the old one and I would keep the statues for sure.

[Siobhan]

Please tell me that this is a joke....

[Siobhan]

It is definitely strange that the Greek firm of Alexandros Tombazis would win with this design. Tombazis was born in Karachi, Pakistan, and his firm has designed some very beautiful and striking buildings in the Middle East, Cyprus,et al.

But this design for Fatima is pure dreck.

[Dajjal]

A friend asked me whether they are going to tear down the basilica. The answer is no, this does not seem to be their plan. If you click on the "(And here, apparently, is an entry that didn't win.)" in the article, it will take you to four sketches by one of the losing architects. The bottom sketch shows that the basilica and the new huge church will be at opposite ends of the plaza.

[pgkdan]

Please tell me your posting this from The onion!