Medieval texts recount an Easter celebration in which a priest would walk the labyrinth and upon reaching the center, throw a yellow woolen ball back and forth to parishioners along the labyrinth’s circumference, as they danced and chanted “Praises to the Easter Victim.” This evoked the myth in which Thesesus wandered the Labyrinth, guided by Ariadne’s string, but was used as a metaphor for Christ’s work of redemption. Either way, use of labyrinths took on a distinctly Christian flavor in the Middle Ages. This transition from secular to sacred may have been incidental as culture found its way into the church 2 or an intentional choice by the church to use the mythological symbol as allegory 3. ![]() This stone-laid labyrinth was built in the floor of the church around 1200. The medieval labyrinth began to adopt a Christian symbolism and is typified in the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth. They were soon brought to southern and western Europe. In the 11th and 12th centuries they were used in manuscripts and on the walls and floors of churches in Italy. ![]() Medieval labyrinths were first seen in the 9th and 10th centuries. While many other labyrinths featured an image of Theseus and the Minotaur in the center, this one contained the words “Sancta Ecclesia” (Holy Church), thereby reminding Christians where their focus should be set. The first labyrinth used in a Christian context dates back to 324 AD in the Basilica of St. The classical labyrinth is found on Cretan coins as early as 430 BC, and was often associated with the Labyrinth myth, though the classical model was not limited to that geographic area. The two most common types of labyrinths are classical, which is made of 7 circuits, and medieval, which has a four-fold pattern and is typically composed of 11 circuits. However, current classifications of mazes typically refer to complex structures with multiple choices of path and direction, whereas labyrinths are defined as containing a single, non-branching path that leads to the center. Therefore, many understand the words “maze” and “labyrinth” as synonyms. In Greek mythology, the labyrinth was a maze in which a half man/half bull was held until killed by Theseus. They have been found in art work, pottery, coins, and drawings around the world: India, East Afghanistan, early Rome, Ukraine, Iceland, Crete, Egypt, Sumatra, and even in Arizona. The earliest rock carvings 4,000 years ago included labyrinths. The labyrinth at our Lexington campus is located just off the walkway between the parking lot at 59 Worthen Road and our Adult Learning Center at 2 Militia Drive. If it doesn’t help you, then use other prayer tools. If you find that it helps you relax and concentrate on God, then good – use it. We invite you to walk the labyrinth and pray. Today there are churches from many different denominations that encourage people to use labyrinths as part of their devotional practices. One way to pray a labyrinth is to worship and praise God as you walk to the center, then intercede for people and concerns as you walk back to the outside. In Christian usage, the purpose of the labyrinth is personal and spiritual transformation. Labyrinths have a long history, both inside and outside the church, and can be found all around the world. There are also finger labyrinths and even an online labyrinth. Labyrinths come in a variety of forms: you may walk through them inside on a canvas mat or outside on grass, tile, or a stone-laid path. It has many turns but, unlike mazes, does not have dead ends. ![]() It gives you the freedom to walk around while focusing your mind on God – and not worry about getting lost.Ī labyrinth contains a single walking path to the center and then back out again. A labyrinth is simply a place to walk and pray.
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