Four thousand years ago, a small port town was founded on the Euphrates River. The humble Babylon grew into one of the largest cities of its time, eventually serving as the capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, a beautiful, mighty center of art, architecture, and science. Home to the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, as well as an important reflection of ancient Mesop

Peru’s distinct heritage has shaped a country where the people’s well-being and harmony with nature is treasured. Around 600 years ago, the Incas were the largest civilization in South America. In 1983, Machu Picchu was declared a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site and in 2007, it was voted one of the New7Wonders of the World by Swiss corp

Situated in the middle of the bay less than half a mile off the northwestern coast of Normandy, Mont-Saint-Michel seemingly floats like a mirage on the horizon. Each year, more than three million pilgrims and tourists flock to this World Heritage Site, recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, for its natural beauty, architectural splendor, and

Rich in culture and tradition, Jongmyo Jerye is the only royal Confucian ritual in the world inherited and performed with such authenticity. The Jongmyo Jerye is called a composite art, combining ritual, music, song, and dance. Its ritual music has a special meaning for Koreans. The music was composed by His Majesty King Sejong the Great, who is still highly respected as the greatest king in Korea

In the midst of downtown Seoul stands a woodland, untouched by the busy city, as tranquil as if time has stood still. Here rests Jongmyo Shrine, the most sacred place of worship in Korea for the past 600 years. Jongmyo is a temple that enshrines the spirits of the 25 kings that ruled Korea during the Joseon dynasty. In December 1995, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural organiz

Considered an extremely impressive, if not perplexing, feat of ancient engineering, with construction comparable to the pyramids of Egypt or Stonehenge in England. Included in the listing are the surrounding regal gardens at the base of the monolith, which have a complex system of aqua engineering complete with dams, locks, canals, bridges, and fountains. In Sigiriya, the Mirror Wall creates shimm

Sigirya was named as a World Heritage Site in 1982. The reason behind this was that Sigiriya is considered as a significant site, not only in Sri Lanka, but in the whole world. Sigiriya is so important to Sri Lankans because of its murals. These murals can be mentioned as the earliest evidence of Sinhalese painting methods in Sri Lanka. The fortress of Sigiriya has gardens that are amongst the old

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who selflessly came to this world over 500 years ago as a Messenger of God. His teachings emphasize that spiritual freedom is found in the discovery of the soul through contacting the voice of truth within, and not through pilgrimage. Still, the site of Gurdwara Janam Asthan holds a significant meaning in the hearts of the Sikh devotees. The birthplaces evoke a nearness to t

Since around AD 600, the pre-Hispanic Mayan farming village of Joya de Cerén slept undisturbed beneath thick layers of ash four to eight meters deep. offering us a unique window into the past. With much of the Joya de Cerén yet to be excavated, each new discovery provides evidence of the ancient Mayans’ wealth of wisdom. The investigations tell us a story of a very well organized and spiritual far

When I look at my cathedral, I think how much faith was needed so that those people could work, break stones, sculpt, to make such a masterpiece. It represents faith. That’s why I say: The cathedral is a place of prayer. All these stones breathe the faith of those who worked on them. It’s a bit like in icon theology. People who made icons, they prayed, the icon is consecrated. When you pray before

We had the honor of learning more about the Note-Dame de Paris from the Reverend Monsignor Patrick Chauvet. Monsignor Chauvet recalls some memorable moments from the long life of Notre-Dame de Paris. The vows of Louis XIII are an important moment that still resonates today, because every August 15th, we reiterate Louis XIII’s vows. Another memorable time at Notre-Dame of Paris was when Napoleon Bo

Situated at the center of Paris, France, Notre-Dame de Paris is celebrated as one of the finest exemplars of French Gothic architecture. The cathedral's name means “Our Lady of Paris” and was constructed in dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary. When was the cathedral built? The first stone was laid in 1163! And they say it took 107 years to build the cathedral. They started with the choir, which

The Benedictine Abbey of Admont was founded in 1074 by Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg. It is now the oldest remaining monastery in Styria, Austria, and one of the largest neo-Gothic sacred buildings in the country. The name Admont comes from the Latin word “ad montes,“ which means “at the mountains.” Situated amidst the gorgeous mountains of Gesäuse National Park, the magnificent Admont Abbey glor

The lines and geoglyphs of Nazca and Palpa are a remarkable work of art left by ancient inhabitants of that region. The archeological site holds significant historical, spiritual, and cultural value. It represents an extraordinary manifestation of a shared religious and social practice that has lasted an impressive period of time. Let us act now to preserve and protect the precious archeological g

Thousands of massive figures and lines were drawn with immaculate geometric precision into the desert plains of Nazca and Palpa in Southern Peru. Due to their quantity, size, nature, and continuity, the Nazca and Palpa Lines are considered by some to be the eighth wonder of the world. Their exact origins remain a mystery. The mystifying Nazca and Palpa Lines have become an important archeological

This once thriving metropolis was the vibrant royal center of an empire. The ancient civilization at Angkor produced some of the world's most awe-inspiring architectural and artistic creations. Majestic remains from this amazing stone city include hundreds of temples and structures, notably the famous Angkor Wat Temple and the Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom. Angkor offers scholars and visitors a prec

The Mahabodhi Temple is one of the earliest and most impressive Buddhist temples in India that was constructed entirely in brick. “Outstanding universal importance as it is one of the most revered and sanctified places in the world.” It is a beautiful and holy place of worship that commemorates the pivotal moment in Lord Buddha’s life when Prince Siddhartha achieved enlightenment and became the Wo

Moldova is a tiny and unique country full of pleasant surprises. It’s especially known for its warm hospitality, enchanting folklore, beautiful monasteries and extensive historical and archeological monuments. Surrounded by Romania and Ukraine, it’s considered a contact zone between three cultures-Carpathian-Balkan, Central European and Eurasian.

We will learn about some of the amazing historical, architectural and cultural achievements of North American Indigenous peoples. This advanced, highly sophisticated societies are known for their unique ability to form structures using earth itself, which also earned them the name “The Mound Builders”.

Mount Baekdu is a dormant volcano that forms the highest peak on the peninsula, reaching 2744 meters. Baekdu-san means”white head mountain,”and as its name suggests the peaks are covered in snow year-round. The Chinese call the mountain Changbaishan meaning “ever-white mountain.”Koreans consider this mountain to be their spiritual center.