qatarperegrine: (jesus)
qatarperegrine ([personal profile] qatarperegrine) wrote2005-10-22 05:38 pm
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Anglican church

Mum recently sent me this news article: Qatar Getting First Christian Church.

They really mean Qatar Getting First Christian Church Building, but oh well.

The only thing I know about the architecture is that the narthex will feature carvings of Psalm 100:4a ("Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise") in all the languages spoken by members of the congregation. Father Ian asked us to bring in translations a couple months ago.

Re: Psalm 100 quote

[identity profile] qatar.livejournal.com 2005-10-23 12:41 pm (UTC)(link)
You know, I think a mosque really IS the building. It's a corruption of masjid, "place of prostration," which obviously refers to the building itself, not to the community (unlike εκκλησια).

I wonder if there is an Arabic word that corresponds to "congregation." You can talk about the ummah, the *whole* Muslim community, but I don't know a word that would mean the small community that worships together.