![]() Most churches were meant to represent the power of the Church through majestic artwork, tall ceilings, marvelous artifacts, and other stylistic appointments, presenting a huge variety of architectural styles throughout the ages. This presence manifested itself in many forms, especially in the churches built through the years. ![]() ![]() Was it simply a matter of faith, or was it more of a political strategy? Regardless, this event marked the start of a whole new era for the Church, which would go on to become an almost omnipresent entity throughout Italy, and Europe. Constantine decriminalized Christianity in 313, and he was instrumental in ceasing the persecution of Christians in the Roman empire, in the event that is still remembered today as “The Triumph of the Church.” To this day, historians and scholars are still speculating about the actual reasons leading to the Emperor’s support of Christianity. Progressively, Christianity gained more traction, up until a massive turning point, when Roman Emperor Constantine The Great (AD 306–337) kickstarted the transition of Christianity into the mainstream religion of the Roman Empire, replacing the previous polytheistic pantheon. Just for a quick refresher, Christianity was originally considered a sect, a minority religion belonging to Jewish immigrants who moved to the area. This building belongs to a long list of former churches, sections of which are currently still decaying in plain sight, without even any proper documentation due to loss of records through the centuries. Take the historical building at Via Nilo 22, “Palazzo di Ludovico Di Bux.” Even the current residents might not realize the premises were once a church, with some of its decaying features still visible to this day. The historical center features many residential buildings that simply morphed into homes from their origins as former chapels, as urban expansion swallowed what was there before. Even large cities like Naples in the Campania region are actually home to many unsuspecting former churches. In some cases, abandoned churches and religious buildings might not even be known outside of the lore of a specific neighborhood, and as time goes by, knowledge of these places and their past history gets simply lost through time. Roman Robroek: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Roman Robroek.From the far north of the country, down to the most remote areas of the southern Italian islands, there are remnants of ancient churches, some of which are only known to smaller local communities. “Oblivion is a closer look at places that remind us that we don’t live in a vacuum and that nothing lasts forever.” The book is now available for purchase on Amazon. Now he has compiled his stunning images of urban decay into a photography book titled Oblivion. Photographer Roman Robroek captures enchanting images that showcase the haunting beauty of abandoned places. Scroll down to see a sneak peek of some of the images you’ll find inside. ![]() Oblivion is now available for purchase in hardcover on Amazon. Every abandoned site is not just a crumbling pile of materials, but an intersection of fortuitous events, characters, choices, and so many other things that led those places to fall into their current state.” Life is transformation, and loss can be a gateway to change or even opportunity. “The dualism in the book title reflects the moving and one-of-a-kind story of each place… Oblivion is a closer look at places that remind us that we don’t live in a vacuum and that nothing lasts forever. “One of the definitions of the word ‘Oblivion’ is the state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening around one-the state of being abandoned or forgotten by the general public,” Robroek explains. The result of his efforts is 256 pages of powerful stories and visual imagery that remind us of these battered dwellings and allow us to appreciate them before they are truly lost. As part of his creative journey, the photographer delved deeper into the storied pasts of these haunting locations in an effort to understand how such magnificent edifices came to be so neglected. Going beyond the mere aesthetic beauty of Robroek’s photographs, the book also features descriptive texts filled with fascinating details about these crumbling urban ruins. ![]()
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