Basilica of our Lady of Victories, Camberwell
Featuring a prominent octagonal dome with gilded cupola, this large 1914 stoneface romanesque church contains much of interest by way of stained glass, a powerful pipe organ originating from Ireland in the early 20th century, and a memorial plaque to Amy Castles - a singer of the calibre of Nellie Melba and considered the opposition to Melba. It is one of five churches in Australia with minor basilica status.
In a city where most churches of the era are built in the Gothic Revival style, it has a distinctive copper clad dome completed with a golden statue of the Virgin Mary. Architect: Augustus Andrew Fritsch (1866 - 1933).
It is one of only five Basilicas in Australia, three of which are in Victoria, one in N.S.W. and one in Western Australia. Ours is known as the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Victories. The Latin word basilica is derived from Greek, Basilikè Stoá, Royal Stoa, the tribunal chamber of a king, and was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC. Basilicas were also used for religious purposes.
In Roman times, a basilica meant an oblong hall with a double row of pillars and a semi-circular apse at the end, used as a court of justice or for formal administration. The remains of a large subterranean basilica dating from the first century were found near Rome in 1915; the stuccoes on the interior vaulting have survived. The ground-plan of Christian basilicas in the 4th century was similar to this basilica, which had three naves, and an apse.
Many early Christian churches were built in this style, but in Rome the term 'basilica' was reserved for the seven principal churches founded by Constantine. Since the second Vatican Council, a church may be declared a' minor basilica' if it meets a number of criteria: it must be a dignified and attractive building with an active liturgical life. A number of specific feasts and liturgies should be observed, and the basilica should lead in liturgical music. A basilica is entitled to use the papal insignia of St Peter's' crossed keys: you will see these above the main entrance. The Basilica in fact retains many recognizable original Byzantine features such as the cupola, the narthex and the semi-circular apses behind the altars and on the sides, with half cupolas redolent of Hagia Sophia in current day Istanbul.
Basilica of our Lady of Victories, Burke Road, Camberwell, Vic
