Saint Paul's

Saint Paul's Cathedral (here by MECHALEX) was built in London in the late 17th century. With it's dominant position in the London skyline, it became a symbol for Britain during the WWII, when it remained standing throughout many German bombings. The cathedral is also a site for such events as royal weddings, and is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of London.

Buddha

I'm not sure who made this Buddha picture - I think it's by Brickstagram, but they also post pictures by other people on their blog without attribution, so it may be by someone else.

Hwang Ryong Sa

During the sixth century, the kingdom of Silla (covering much of the Korean peninsula) began to adopt Buddhism, which was imported from China. King Jinheung commissioned a new temple in the city of Gyeongju. He had originally intended the site for a palace, but his plans changed when a dragon was seen landing at the site. The temple Hwang Ryong Sa, which translates as 'Golden Dragon Temple' or 'Imperial Dragon Temple', became the center for the newly state-sponsored religion of Buddhism. The nine story pagoda was built about a century later than the rest of the complex. During the thirteenth century the temple was destroyed by Mongolian invaders, but here OliveSeon constructs a LEGO version as it would appear today if it were still standing.

Mo'ai

The Mo'ai of Easter Island (here by TheBricks) may have had religious significance to the carvers as deified ancestors. Or not. There is a lot of speculation on the actual purpose of these giant statues.

Habemus LEGO

At the blog Shower of Roses, Jessica's son built We Have A Pope! :: Lego Edition. I love the details like the microphone, the Swiss guards and the fact that someone in the crowd has an umbrella.

Empty tomb

Some final Easter MOCs from this year. JustinM built Jesus' resurrection, TheBricks built He is not here, Brother Steven built He is risen and IronBricks built a simple stone.

Calvary

More Easter creations. TheBricks built He was wounded for our transgressions and JustinM built He died on the cross for our sins.

Road to the cross

I wanted to round up some of the MOCs built around Easter this year. Repelling spider built They abused him, Monsterbrick built Jesus and Kraut Decals built Today.

Salt Lake Temple

This version of the Salt Lake Temple was made by a family and is on display in their bishop's office.

Jabba Sophia no more, well, not much more, well, for two years more

Revisiting an earlier story, the Austrian Turkish Islamic community is claiming victory, because LEGO has said that the set Jabba's palace is going to be discontinued at the end of 2014. They had previously complained was racist (really!) because it looks too much like the Hagia Sophia, or was it the Jami al-Kabir Mosque, or was it any building with a domed roof. LEGO responded that, no, they weren't changing anything in response to these protests, that products don't sit on the shelf for more than two years anyway. Personally, I think that LEGO has caved in to complaints from the Hundred Acres Wood because they aren't producing the Winnie the Pooh sets anymore. Really, when you read LEGO's response you can literally hear them beating their heads against the wall.

Riddle me this, LEGO man

Kristi McWii has posed two more riddles, based on Christ's earthly ministry: Imagine a miracle. and Imagine a Bible story.

He is risen

Empty Tomb by Repellingspider. Indeed.

Good Friday

They dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; 18 and they began to acclaim Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him. After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him. - Mark 15:17-20

BMW_Indy made this amazing MOC - John 3:16.

Maundy Thursday

And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. - Luke 22:19-20

Brendan Powell Smith Lego-ized DaVinci's Last Supper.

Imagine a Bible Story

LEGO produced a number of fun riddles. Kristy McWii has made some of her own, including Imagine a Bible Story.

Why is this night different from all other nights?

Tonight Jews around the world celebrate the first night of Passover. This commemorates the night that the Israelites were protected from death and sent forth from Egypt to freedom. The ritual meal brings together the family, and the story is retold how the Lord rescued their people from slavery. Sitting on the table is the Seder plate (here by Joanna Brichetto), with items that each bear symbolic meaning. Maror and chazeret (left and bottom portions here) are bitter herbs that symbolize the bitterness of slavery. Charoset (lower right) is a paste of fruit and nuts symbolizing the mortar used by the slaves to build in Egypt. Karpas (center) is a vegetable dipped in salt water or vinegar, symbolic of Joseph's coat being dipped in blood. Zeroa (upper right) is a roasted lamb or goat bone - during the days of the Temple sacrifices would be offered at this time in memory of the lamb's blood put on the doorpost. Beitzah (upper left) is a hard-boiled egg, also representative of a temple sacrifice, and additionally a symbol of sadness over the destruction of the temple. I've also seen it noted in connection to spring and new life.

Ten plagues

If I'd planned this in advance, I would have a ten day countdown to Passover and would cover each of the plagues, but I'm not that organized. Plus it's a busy time of year for a blogger with general religious themes, with us now entering Holy Week for Christianity, and of course there are the developments in the Catholic Church with the new Pope Francis. Plus I've just run across some other nice MOCs I wanted to feature. Anyway, let's just feature the first plague, illustrated here by E.B..

The LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over the streams and canals, over the ponds and all the reservoirs—and they will turn to blood.’ Blood will be everywhere in Egypt, even in vessels of wood and stone.” Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. - Exodus 7:19-20

Palm Sunday

Over on KidsChurchIdeas they've got some ideas for a LEGO Easter Club. This layout has different sections illustrating different parts of the Easter week story, but there in the middle we see the road leading into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday: 'On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”' John 12:12,13.

Burning bush

Here are three versions of Moses and the burning bush. "The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. ... He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Exodus 3:2,6

Athos.


Ben King.


Marcus Goodyear.

Plight of the Israelites

As we lead up to next week's Passover, recall the Plight of the Israelites (by Digger1221): So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly. They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly. Exodus 1:11-14 NIV.