Temple of Solomon (UCKG)

Temple of Solomon
Temple of Solomon
Basic information
Location São Paulo, Brazil
Geographic coordinates 23°32'16"S 46°36'23"W
Affiliation Neopentecostal Christianity
State São Paulo
Website http://www.otemplodesalomao.com/en/
Architect(s) Rogério Silva de Araújo

The Temple of Solomon[1] (Portuguese: Templo de Salomão, IPA: [ˈtẽplu dʒi saloˈmɐ̃w̃]) is a replica of the Temple of Solomon built by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in São Paulo.

According to Brazilian press reports, the new temple is an "exact replica" of the ancient Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem.[2] According to the church's leader, "The outside is exactly the same as that which was built in Jerusalem",[3] but with increased dimensions.

Bishop Edir Macedo, the founder and leader of the neo-pentecostal church, at the time of construction explained that "We are preparing ourselves to build the temple, in the same mold as Solomon's. Solomon's Temple … used tonnes of gold, pure gold ...We are not going to build a temple of gold, but we will spend tonnes of money, without a shadow of doubt."[4] Bishop Macedo has said that the temple is twice the height of Rio de Janeiro's Catholic-sponsored Christ the Redeemer statue.[4] Inside the temple there is a replica of the Ark of the Covenant constructed according to "biblical orientations".[4]

The Temple

The temple was officially inaugurated on July 31st, 2014.[5] The inauguration attracted thousands of worshipers including Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.[6]

The Temple serves as both a house of worship and as world headquarters for the Church. The mega-church seats 10,000 worshipers and stands 55 meters (180') tall, the height of an 18-story building.[4] Its dimensions therefore far exceed the temple it replicates, described in the Bible as having the relatively modest height of some thirteen meters ("thirty cubits", 1 Kings 6:2).

The church spared no expense in designing the many features of the temple. The temple has a conveyor belt system designed to carry tithes and offerings from the altar directly into a safe room. The main ceiling is adorned with 10,000 LED light bulbs which will form different patterns designed to look like stars. Keeping with the Jewish theme of the temple, the walls are adorned with menorahs, and the entrance features a large central menorah. [7]

The 11-story complex includes outdoor features such as a helicopter landing pad, a garden of olive trees based off of the Garden of Gethsemane near Jerusalem, and flags of several countries[5] There is a parking lot able to accommodate 1,000 vehicles and 50 buses, classrooms for 1,300 children, and radio and television studios inside the building.[4]

The Altar

One of the most prominent features of the temple is its large central altar. It features an exact replica of the Ark of the Covenant, built to the specifications described in the Book of Exodus. The structure is entirely covered in gold leaf. Above the altar is 100 square meters of gold stained glass windows, and behind it there is a grand baptistry, all of which add to grandeur of its design.[7]

Construction

The temple construction cost $300m,[8] 50% more than the initial estimates.[4] It took four years to build. The building is designed by architect Rogério Silva de Araújo.[4]

The project required new traffic signals and other improvements to the surrounding streets to improve traffic flow.[9]

The church has contracted to import $8m worth of Jerusalem stone from Israel.[4] Macedo told the Guardian that "We have signed the contract and commissioned the stones that will come from Jerusalem, just like the ones that were used to build the temple in Israel; stones that were witnesses to the powers of God, 2,000 [years] ago."[4]

The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God was founded in Brazil in 1977. It claims to have 8 million communicants who live in 180 different countries. It has a television channel, Rede Record, and a weekly newspaper, Folha Universal, distributed free to 2.5m households, according to Church officials who also say that Bishop Macedo's blog gets as many as 4m hits per month.[4]

References

  1. ↑ THE BIBLE COMES TO LIFE IN BRAZIL
  2. ↑ Réplica do Templo de Salomão deve custar R$ 200 milhões Eduardo Reina, 22 de julho de 2010, O Estado de S.Paulo.
  3. ↑ "Solomon’s Temple replica to be built in Brazil," Aug. 3, 2010, Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 "Solomon's Temple in Brazil would put Christ the Redeemer in the shade; Huge replica planned for São Paulo would be twice the height of the iconic statue of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro Tom Phillips, July 21, 2010, The Guardian.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Romero, Simon (2014-07-24). "Temple in Brazil Appeals to a Surge in Evangelicals". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
  6. ↑ Paulo, Jonathan Watts in São. "Brazil’s evangelicals become a political force to be reckoned with". the Guardian. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Antunes, Anderson. "God Has A New Home: A $300 Million Mega Temple In Sao Paulo". Forbes. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
  8. ↑ Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus inaugura empreendimento faraônico de R$ 685 milhões
  9. ↑ "Em troca de megatemplo, igreja vai fazer obras para aliviar trânsito no Brás, Eduardo Reina, 22 de Julio, 2010, O Estado de S.Paulo.

External links

Coordinates: 23°32′16″S 46°36′23″W / 23.53778°S 46.60639°W