Personal Chapel

Garrett Lambur
One of the most interesting concepts that I have come across on this trip is that of personal chapel. In the Troja Palace there was a quite ornate private chapel that just struck me. Today you would be hard struck to find a personal chapel anywhere in the States, I am unsure about the rest of the world. Chapels or Churches or places of religions worship have become a group activity within our world. It is one of the best group activities for establishing a sense of community. I am sad to say that I have not ever experienced this myself but I have seen it and what good it can do for a group of people.

The times were different when the Troja palace was constructed. There was a definite separation between classes that was not crossed. The nobles kept themselves separate from the poor in most cases, they flaunted their wealth and lived almost only for their own personal gain. So following that thinking the idea of personal chapel would fit the mold. These families did not want to be associated with the masses and separated themselves even when worshipping. It amazes me to see the change of interpretation of Christianity over the time and part can be seen in this subject. Christianity at that time was more one of what I would label shock and awe, people seemed to worship based entirely out of fear of what would happen if they didn’t. Today the idea behind worship is more out of love and happiness, drastically different from the older drive to worship.

Along with keeping the nobles separate from the masses, having a personal chapel was another way to flaunt their wealth. This family could afford to have this chapel inside their house and thus not have to travel to attend a place of worship. The idea strikes me as strange by today’s standards but when I look at it through the standards of the time it makes more sense but I do not agree with it.