The Vastness of Magical Destiny

As the bell tower on the side of St. Mark’s Church resoundingly chimed, the clear, melodious sound of the bells unfolded into lingering echoes across the front of Virgin Square, the azure sky pristine, and the brilliant sunshine cast a carpet of gold upon the ground before the square. Startled pigeons around the fountain took flight, their wings beating high, sweeping across the sky above the square, casting scattered shadows below.

Nearly all the believers in the square could not help but look up silently at the church’s dome, reciting their confessions, praying that the God of Light would forgive all the original sins of the world, and bless mankind.

The majestic and exquisitely beautiful St. Mark’s Church, as one of the most important religious sites on the Continent, is unquestionably the Church of Light’s premier building. The three-sectioned basilica extends the main structure of the church several tens of meters forward, significantly toning down the church’s imposing nature, and making the church seem more approachable. However, to get a full view of the church, especially the magnificent church dome, one must come to the center of Angel Square in front of the church.

The 25-meter-tall obelisk has in fact become a landmark. Each of the four sides of the obelisk features an ornate fountain, and the lines connecting the fountains to the obelisk form the long and short axes of Virgin Square, with the center being the obelisk. The oval Virgin Square unfolds from here, extending outward along the curved colonnade, creating the greatest open-air square on the Continent.

The long axis of the square stretches for 198 meters, while the curved colonnade is 17 meters wide. Four rows of proud Doric columns stand tall, numbering 284, with 88 pilaster columns of an imposing design. The parapets above the cornices are decorated with 96 statues of saints and martyrs.

The columns are thick and closely spaced, the layers dense as forests, the interplay of light and shadow dramatic. The Baroque artistic conception blends here with a precisely simple layout, becoming a marvelous hybrid. Between the colonnade and the cathedral, corridors connect left and right, forming a trapezoidal square.

The square has a distinct slope, allowing believers on the square to see clearly as the Pope stands on the church steps in front to bless the congregation.

It’s no wonder that such a grand yet delicate architectural marvel exhausted all the talent and passion of Bernini, the most famous master builder of the time. It’s said that after completing this building, he uttered only one phrase, "Divine inspiration, momentary and forever lost." Afterward, he never again produced a work of such caliber for the world.