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BUFFALO ALLIANCE FOR SACRED PLACES LAUNCHES TOURISM INITIATIVE<\/strong><\/p>\n First Presbyterian, Blessed Trinity, Corpus Christi & Buffalo Religious Arts Center Join Statewide Open House<\/em><\/p>\n Buffalo, New York \u2013 The National Trust Conference, hosted in Buffalo this past October, put our city\u2019s architectural treasury of civic, sacred and residential landmarks \u201cfront and center\u201d for a national audience. In the aftermath of this high profile event, a new collaborative, titled the Buffalo Alliance for Sacred Places, has been formed \u201cto promote the preservation and appreciation of the art, architecture and history of Buffalo\u2019s houses of worship.\u201d The member organizations, which began meeting in January, are First Presbyterian Church, Blessed Trinity Church, Corpus Christi Church and the Buffalo Religious Arts Center.<\/p>\n The group has chosen to participate in The New York Landmarks Conservancy\u2019s Sacred Sites Open House Weekend on May 19-20 as their first collaborative initiative. These sacred sites join dozens of religious institutions throughout New York State in welcoming the public to special programming during this unique event, as follows:<\/p>\n Blessed Trinity Church \u2013 317 Leroy Ave., Buffalo<\/strong> Members of the local arts community are particularly welcome, and invitations have been sent to neighboring art and photography studios.<\/p>\n Blessed Trinity is recognized as the purest replication of Lombard-Romanesque architecture in the United States and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The extensive use of terra cotta in its construction (1923-1928) provided for one of its most unique features: an elaborate display of medieval iconography created by Rev. Thomas Plassman, then President of St. Bonaventure University. The church contains more than two thousand symbols which depict this \u201csumma\u201d or summary of Christian beliefs in ceramic tiles, paintings and sculpture, and docents will be available to help interpret them.<\/p>\n Buffalo Religious Arts Center \u2013 157 East St., Buffalo<\/strong> The Buffalo Religious Arts Center is located in the former St. Francis Xavier Church, in the heart of historic Black Rock. This unique gallery is dedicated to the preservation of Buffalo\u2019s rich religious heritage through the collection and display of art and artifacts from many of the area\u2019s closed houses of worship. The artifacts on display include stained glass, statuary and paintings, all of which reveal the story of the many immigrants who settled in Buffalo. As an added attraction the Center\u2019s Herman Schlicker organ, cited by Organ Historical Society, will be featured in concert the two days.<\/p>\n Corpus Christi Church \u2013 199 Clark St., Buffalo<\/strong> Sophie Knab \u2013 Polish Customs, Traditions & Folklore Corpus Christi Church is located on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, and was honored in 2010 with a Preservation Buffalo Niagara Preservation Award. The iconic mural above the church altar, considered one of the most significant pieces of ecclesiastical artwork in the United States, was recently restored to its original splendor. This exquisite artwork is a rendering of a Vatican masterpiece by celebrated, Renaissance painter Raphael Santi. The mural was originally painted in the 1920\u2019s by Marion Rzeznik and Gonippo Raggi, both of whom are considered premier, 20th century artists of ecclesiastical paintings.<\/p>\n First Presbyterian Church \u2013 One Symphony Circle, Buffalo First Presbyterian Church, a Buffalo city landmark, was the first faith community in Buffalo. Founded in 1812, it is often referred to as the \u201cMother of All Churches.\u201d Even Teddy Roosevelt worshipped here! The Romanesque church was designed by Buffalo architects Green and Wicks. Notable features include the main dome, towering 64 ft. above the floor of the nave, decorated in a Persian design. The apse features four medallions depicting the Four Evangelists, adapted from carvings on the doors of St. Mark\u2019s in Venice, Italy, while the chandeliers are copies of those in Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.<\/p>\n ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC<\/p>\n Since 1986 The New York Landmarks Conservancy\u2019s Sacred Sites program has supported more than 675 religious institutions throughout the state which have received over $7.3 million in matching grants. Sacred Sites is the country\u2019s oldest and largest statewide grant program to help landmark religious properties. Corpus Christi, Blessed Trinity, First Presbyterian and the Buffalo Religious Arts Center have all received matching grants from the Sacred Sites program.<\/p>\n For additional information on the Sacred Sites Open House Weekend, contact Ann Friedman, Director, Sacred Sites at the New York Landmarks Conservancy at 212\/995-5260 or visit\u00a0http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/SSOpenHouse.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/buffalosacredplaces.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/4.jpg?resize=225%2C225\" "\\"4\\"")
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\nChurch Tours Link Preservation of Faith and Art<\/strong>
\nSaturday, May 19, from 2:00 \u2013 4:00 p.m.<\/strong>
\nSunday, May 20, from 12:00 noon \u2013 2:00p.m.<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/www.blessedtrinitybuffalo.org\/events.html<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/buffalosacredplaces.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/3.jpg?resize=225%2C225\" "\\"3\\"")
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\nOpen House<\/strong>
\nSaturday May 19 & Sunday May 20 \u2013 noon \u2013 3:00p.m.<\/strong>
\nwww.buffaloreligiousarts.org<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/buffalosacredplaces.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/2.jpg?resize=225%2C225\" "\\"2\\"")
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\n\u201cMeet the Authors\u201d reception & booksigning<\/strong>
\nSaturday, May 19 \u2013 1:00p.m. \u2013 3:00p.m.<\/strong>
\nwww.corpuschristibuffalo.org<\/a><\/p>\n
\nDeacon Michael P. McKeating \u2013 O Timothy!
\nGregory L. Witul \u2013 Adorned In Light: The Stained Glass of Corpus Christi Church, Buffalo, NY
\nEdward Zawadzki \u2013 The Poles in the New World<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/buffalosacredplaces.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/1.jpg?resize=225%2C225\" "\\"1\\"")
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\nNew York American Choral Directors Association\u2019s
\nWestern New York Invitational Choral Fest
\nSaturday May 19 \u2013 7:30p.m.
\nJubilee Worship and catered reception in honor
\nof First Presbyterian Church\u2019s Bicentennial
\nSunday May 20 \u2013 Celebratory Service \u2013 11:00 AM,
\nfollowed by a gala reception and fellowship<\/strong>
\nwww.firstchurchbuffalo.org<\/a><\/p>\n