Wow.

My priest was telling our RCIA class recently about early baptismal fonts, and saying that he'd like to replace the birdbath-like one in our church with an old-school one, if he could only get some space. Methinks he'd have to impinge on the parking lot...
Kasia | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 7:40 pm | #

Today, His Holiness visited an ancient papal swimming pool.
Katrina Leigh | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 8:43 pm | #

I didn't think Catholics went for full immersion. Would it be useful for mass conversions?
Panda Rosa | 11.30.06 - 9:43 pm | #

What were they baptizing, elephants???
SUZANNE | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 11:10 pm | #

I have a hard time believing that is a baptismal font.

In the crypt of the cathedral in Milan, Italy it is possible to see the ruins of previous cathedral that was there, including the baptismal font, which dates from the 4th or 5th century.

As I recall, that font is a cross-shaped pool set into a platform raised a few steps above the surrounding floor. The pool has a diameter of 10-15 feet and a depth of perhaps 2-3 feet.
wsxyz | 12.01.06 - 3:09 am | #

You know, this gaping hole in the ground is actually more beautiful than many of the churches in North America...
Tim Ferguson | 12.01.06 - 6:59 am | #

I don't know about early baptismal font architecture, but if it was based on the Jewish mikveh, it was full-immersion.
Sarah | 12.01.06 - 10:22 am | #

I believe the hole is actually revealing an archaeological site near Hagia Sophia; the ruins at the bottom are of a much older basilican church from 360AD.
(click on the link below the photo)
:)
Quantitative Metathesis | Homepage | 12.01.06 - 2:51 pm | #

It's not actually a baptismal font, it's the ruins of the original church. PPOTD's go for humor not accuracy. Next time I'll provide a link to the original caption to avoid confusion. :)
AmericanPapist | Homepage | 12.01.06 - 2:58 pm | #