HOEV / HEHA Artikel 004 - Santa Barbara Kapel - Harties.net
HOEV / HEHA Artikel 004 – Santa Barbara Kapel
May 6, 2019 JFK
SANTA BARBARA, “NOMIKOS” (GRIEKS ORTODOKSE) KAPEL
GPS data:X 27.44.36 Y –25.45.32
PAD: Grondpad na Remhoogte op draai van P123-1 in Skeerpoort. Draai net na rivier na regs uit.
EIENAAR / KONTAKPERSOON: Hugo Meyer (012-2071305)
Hoog teen die Magaliesberg, naby die kranse staan daar op ‘n plaas in Skeerpoort ‘n wit kerkie met ‘n koepeldak van rooibruin teëls. Van ver af lyk dit glad nie so klein nie as wat dit werklik is. Die wit mure tussen die groen bome laat die gebou groot lyk. Eers wanneer ‘n mens binne in die kerkie op sy leiklipvloer staan besef jy werklik hoe klein dit is. Die binne-afmetings is maar net 10 by 6 meter. Die gebou is stewig met dik mure en sy gemesselde koepel met agt vensters verskaf ‘n aangename koel beligting. Hier is ‘n ou tradisionele boukuns wat uit ‘n klimaat stam wat nogal verwant aan ons s’n is.
Binne die kerkie, wat nog jaarliks vir dienste gebruik word, is die gebruiklike liturgiese ruimte met altaar, poorte en ikone soos deur die Grieks Ortodokse diens benodig. Daar is geen banke nie. Die gemeente staan in elk geval meeste van die tyd.
Die plasing van die kerkie in die landskap asook die atmosfeer in sy onmiddellike omgewing straal ‘n heel besondere gewyde atmosfeer uit wat weereens die antieke Grieke se panteïsme, in ‘n Christelike vorm gegiet, weergee.
Volgens oorlewering in die plaaslike gemeenskap is die kerk as ‘n dankoffer van die skeepsmagnaat, Nomikos, vir die wonderlike herstel van siekte van sy seun, Lakki op hierdie plaas gebou. Die ware verhaal is egter heelwat anders en is deur Alkis Doucakis, een van die gemeentelede van die Grieks Ortodokse Kerk van Johannesburg nagevors. Kyk aanhaling hierna.
SANTA BARBARA CHAPEL (ALSO KNOWN AS “NOMIKOS CHAPEL”)
GPS data: X 27.44.36 Y –25.45.32
ROAD: Take dirt road to Remhoogte from turn in P123-1Skeerpoort, cross the river and turn right.
OWNER / CONTACT PERSON: Hugo Meyer (012-2071305)
On a farm at Skeerpoort high up on the mountain near the cliffs there is a little white church with a dome of reddish brown tiles. Curiously enough, seen from a distance this church does not look as small as it actually is. Its white walls surrounded by green trees create the illusion of a rather big building. It is only when standing inside on the slate floor that one realizes how tiny it is. The inside measurements are only 10 by 6 metres. A sturdy thick-walled building, its plastered brick dome with eight windows provides a pleasant coolness and admits a lot of light. Here we see an old traditional form of architecture stemming from a climate not quite unlike our own.
The organisation of the interior space is in accordance with the customary liturgical requirements for Greek Orthodox services (which are still held here occasionally). There is an altar, portals and icons, but no seating.
The position of the little church in the landscape, together with the atmosphere of its immediate surroundings, creates a very special devotional atmosphere, which reflects the pantheism of the ancient Greeks cast in a Christian mould.
According to legends by the local farming community, the church was built in 1952 by the ship magnate Nomikos as a form of gratitude for the miraculous recovery from illness of his son Lakki on this farm. The real history, however as researched by Alkis Doucakis, a Greek Orthodox from Johannesburg, is much more interesting:
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June 11, 2019 JFK