Education and Teacher Essay Example for Free

Education and Teacher Essay The word â€Å"teacher† does the profession no service. A teacher is really a combination of the most important professions in the world. Besides the parents, an educator is the biggest influence in a child’s life. The age span in which children are in school is the most impressionable years of their lives. A student’s educational experience can mold the events of his or her future. That is why I want to become a teacher. I want to be a mold for younger generations, and I hope for students to remember a knowledgeable and ethical teacher. Beliefs I feel the student should come to school willing to learn and the teacher should come ready to teach! The student’s role is just as important as the teachers; the student’s expectations of the teacher should be for her to teach and help them learn at all times. Teachers also play an important role in the classroom when it comes to the environment. If the teacher prepares a warm, happy environment, students are more likely to be happy. An environment set by the teacher can be either good or bad. If students feel the teacher is angry, students may react badly to that and therefore learning can be harder. I think teachers are responsible for the social behavior in their classrooms. This behavior is primarily a reflection of the teachers actions and the environment he/she sets. Metaphysics We are all here for a purpose and I believe that, that is to live for God and follow his way of life. It is hard to know what you are really on earth for until you find it through him! Some teachers will find it hard to keep the focus on the classroom do to all the other outside distractions but, I strongly believe that is you were meant to be a teacher then you will find a way to look past the bad and find the good. Why am I here? I think I am here to help children follow their dreams and make it through school easier than I did. When I become a teacher I want to be the best ever! I want to see that smile on the kids’ faces after I teach them something amazing. Progressivism I want to teach from some aspects of the progressivism style which focuses on respect for individuality, high regard for science, and learning from experience. I want to teach the children in my classroom to have respect for each other. This is a quality that will help them to be successful in society because if they respect others, then others will have respect for them. Having respect for others also shows that they have respect for themselves. I also want children to learn by hands-on activities. I will direct them from step to step and demonstrate how to do each step in the activities they perform. These activities make learning more interesting for the children because the children are able to get involved instead of just always watching the teacher do everything. Speaking of the children getting involved, they can really get involved when learning in a different atmosphere when on field trips. I feel taking children on field trips is an effective learning experience for them because it allows children to get out of the classroom setting and learn from a different perspective. In addition I want to focus on sciences because they are an important area in the knowledge of children. I think this growing area of our society should be focused on thoroughly because science advances and improves every day and I feel children should be aware of their changing world. Constructivism I feel like this is the main reason why I should teach and why I want to teach, I have learned so much though school and it has molded me to become who I am today. I learn a lot through experience and what I know will make me a better teacher it will help me relate to the ones that hate school or the ones that think they can’t do it. It’s all a process and the way you take the steps is how I think you will show others so you have to help them with their process and make sure that it doesn’t go bad or in the wrong direction. I plan to continue my education so that I may make teaching my profession. After graduation, I hope to find a position in an elementary school teaching in one of the first through sixth grade classes. I feel that elementary education is extremely important because it is here that children establish their foundation for the rest of the educational career. My goal and desires are to have the opportunity to touch a child’s life.

Reflection On Separation Of The Church And State History Essay

Reflection On Separation Of The Church And State History Essay In the early sixteenth century there was only one religion in Western Europe. This was the Roman Catholic religion. For a long time, the Catholic Church had been involved in the political life of Western Europe. As a result of their involvement in politics, the Catholic Church became very rich and powerful. This caused the church to become weakened spiritually. The church had become a lot more interested in or had become corrupted by power and wealth causing it to pay very little interest to its actual purpose which was handling the spiritual problems of the masses. This caused the church to begin a number of malpractices, such as the sale of indulgences to the masses. Indulgences were documents signed by the pope that forgave or absolved people of all their sins and gave them access into heaven. Indulgences could also be purchased on the behalf of a dead relative, to reduce their time in purgatory before entry into heaven. The relationship between the church and the masses soon beca me solely based on money. Most of these practices, especially that of the sale of indulgences caused a number of people in different European states to start questioning the church, which was labeled as an act of heresy by the church. This people were the likes of Martin Luther in Germany, Erasmus of Rotterdam, John Calvin in Switzerland, and Henry VIII in England. Martin Luther was actually the main person behind the reformations which took place in Germany, and eventually spread to other parts of Europe. His actions started with the letter and 95 theses he wrote against the church in 1517(). In his writings, he questioned the churchs sale of indulgences as well as other malpractices. His writings spread throughout Germany and eventually most parts of Europe causing people to begin to see the malpractices carried out by the Catholic Church. As a result of this, Luther was excommunicated by the Catholic Church in 1521. This did not change anything as Luthers ideas had already spread throughout Germany. Luthers reforms led to a number of wars against the church, which eventually led to the separation of the church. Luther formed the Lutheran church. Another important figure that contributed to the reformation of the Catholic Church was John Calvin. Most of John Calvins works, such as the Institutes of Christian Religion were published in Switzerland which was a more liberal place as compared to France where he was born and escaped from. The Institutes of Christian religion was published in 1536(). He would have been persecuted by the king and the church if he had published his works in France. Calvins ideas were hugely successful in Switzerland and majority of the Catholics became protestant. Like Luthers ideas, the Catholic Church was against them and labeled them to acts of heresy. Calvin formed the Calvinist church. The king of England at the time, King Henry the VIII also played a major role in the reforms against the Catholic Church. English reformations against the church began under his reign. He pulled England away from the rule of the Catholic Church, making himself the supreme head of the English church by an act of parliament in 1534(). Although the English church had been cut off from the popes control, the English people were still predominantly Catholic. It was only later that the Church of England was to be known as the Anglican church of England and Anglicanism became a religion. Although Henrys actions were for personal reasons, he questioned the Catholic Churchs authority, something that would spread throughout England. There were many others who contributed to the reformations against the Catholic Church, but the likes of Martin Luther, John Calvin and King Henry VIII were at the fore front. The reforms that took place against the church helped most governments to break away from the control of the pope and the church. Most countries such as England and North Germany could to some extent make political decisions without the churchs permission. The population did not have to pay any more taxes to the church. The Catholic Church hit back against the protestant reformers with what was known as the Counter Reformation. The Counter Reformation was led most notably by pope Paul III in 1534. He hit back with the approval of the new religious order called the Jesuits in the convocation of the council of Trent to deal with disciplinary and doctrinal questions asked by the Protestants 1545 1563() . He also readily deployed military assistance when necessary to act against the Protestants. The Catholics succeeded to save some of its territories from the reformers as well as obtain new territories in North and South America. This was done through a number of wars against the Protestants. Although most of Europe still remained predominantly catholic, the church lost the grip it had on the masses. People began to ask questions unlike before. The reformations against the church had a major impact on the separation of the church from the state. After the reformations, the next period that really affected the church was the period of revolutions in science and political thought. During this period, ideas such as geocentrism accepted by the church where being questioned by scientist. The likes of Nicolas Coperincus, Johannes Kepler, Gallileo Gallilei and Isaac Newton proved the idea to be wrong and came up with the idea of heliocentrism. William Harvey discovered the circulation of blood, which was previously and unattainable feet because the church did not permit dissection of the human corps. More aspects of the catholic religion were questioned and yet again were proven to be wrong. Although the church threatened most of them and ordered their works not be read, the damage had already been done. The church began to lose its supremacy over the masses. The works and discoveries by scientist greatly affected philosophers of the next century. Like scientist, a lot of philosophers also started coming up with new ideas which enc ouraged people to begin thinking. A lot of these philosophers gave ideas concerning political thought and reasoning. They included the likes of David Hume, John Locke, Francis Bacon, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Franà §ois-Marie Arouet (Voltaire), Charles-Louis de Secondat Baron de Montesquieu, Immanuel Kant and many others. Most of this philosophers or philosophes came from the enlightenment (Age of Reason) period in the eighteenth century. The idea behind most of their work was the reduction of power from the kings in Europe. The kings in Europe at the time were absolute monarchs, and exercised authority over their subjects as the head of state and government. Most of the philosophes at this time were against this form of government, and strongly encouraged a form of power reduction. Montesquieu, for example came up with the idea of the separation of power into three distinct branches. These three branches included; the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. Most governments tod ay such as those of France and Germany are being ruled with the idea of separation of government. John Lockes idea was that a rulers authority was supposed to be conditional and not absolute. In his book entitled Two Treatises of Government (1680 1690), he defines political power to be A right of making laws with penalties of death, and consequently all less penalties for the regulating and preserving of property, and of employing the force of the community, in the execution of such laws, and in the defense of the common-wealth from foreign injury; and all this only for the public good (195). The United States of America is an example of a country that uses this form of government today. The ideas introduced by these philosophers led to revolutions in Europe, such as the French revolution and in European colonies abroad such as the American Revolution. The people sort to end the reign of absolute monarchy and introduce a new form of government. The French philosophe Voltaires ideas were also very influential. He directly questioned religious dogma at the time. He strongly routed for the separation of the state from the church. At the time the government was integrated with religion. What the church saw as an offense against its doctrines, the government laid out a sanction for the crime. No one could speak freely, choose his religion, or think without being persecuted. Revolts against absolute kings in a way were revolts against the church. As different European countries reluctantly accepted the change from absolutism, they became open to many other things including Protestantism. The Catholic Church slowly lost its grip over political affairs of the state thus leading to secularism and eventually, separation of the church from the state. With this, punishment was not given out to the citizens on the bases of religious laws or doctrines. In 1648, after the thirty years wars (a war that caused a transition from medieval to modern politics), secularism was really put into effect. Church lands were transferred to the state during the treaty of Westphalia, as well as the tolerance to other minor religions (Protestants). With the coming of secularism and the separation of the church from state, most countries picked up what was known as sovereign nation-states. The treaty ended the Holy Roman Empire as an institution and began what was known as a modern European system. England was the first European country to end the reign of the absolute monarchs in Europe. This happened at the end of the seventeenth century through the glorious revolutions under James IIs rule. These revolutions saw the complete over throw of absolute monarchs in England. The power of the monarchs became supplementary to the powers of branches of government. Parliament then drew up a Bill of Rights which restricted the power monarchs over the parliament and individuals in the society. It would not be for another century that absolutism would end in other parts of Europe. Absolutism ended mainly in most of Europe with the coming of the French revolution. The French revolution began in France in 1789 under the reign of Louis XVI. The revolution ended with the execution of Louis XVI in January 1793 (). This brought an end to absolute monarchy in France. This period was followed by Robespierres reign of terror under a new form of government called the National Convention from 1793 1794 (). The system in France eventually led to a consulate form of government in 1799. Napoleon Bonaparte became the emperor of France in 1804. Napoleon Bonaparte was strongly for the removal of the church from state affairs. France and the Catholic Church were not on good terms during the period of the revolutions. Regardless of this, Napoleon signed the Concordat 1801, which was an agreement that Napoleon would recognize the church and Pope Pius VII would recognize the revolution. All this was a formality for Napoleon as he did not really care what the Catholic Church thought. He was very displeased with the amount of power the Catholic Church had. During Napoleons coronation by the pope in 1804, he seized the crown from the pope and crowned himself emperor. This was in a way to show that he was not going to share his power with the pope. Napoleon was also in favor of religious tolerance and this was clearly seen through his Napoleonic code. her minor religions (protestants) thus followed. the bases of religious laws or doctrines s including protestianism

The Overwhelming Emotional States of Hamlet in Shakespeares Hamlet Ess

The Overwhelming Emotional States of Hamlet in Shakespeare's Hamlet Depression, melancholy, disillusionment, and disconnectedness are the burning emotions churning in young Hamlet?s soul as he attempts to come to terms with his father?s death and his mother?s incestuous, illicit marriage. While Hamlet tries to pick up the pieces of his shattered idealism, he consciously embarks on a quest to seek the truth hidden in Elsinore; this mission of Hamlet?s is in stark contrast to Claudius? fervent effort to obscure the truth of King Hamlet?s murder. The question of Hamlet?s sanity is irrelevant, but instead his melancholy disposition is the centering aspect of the play The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Hamlet?s melancholy is prevalent in his unique diction, his conversations with both comrades and enemies, and especially in his soliloquies. Those aspects of the play allow a glimpse into Hamlet?s state of questioning of deception versus truth and illusion versus reality. The constant struggle between the real and the imagined, along with the circums tances of Hamlet?s arrival home, and the tension between the Danish royalty, give rise to extreme melancholy in Hamlet?s personality, and thereby turn him into a stereotypical malcontent. Hamlet?s fear, separation, and mistrust form him into a typical malcontent character. In defining the malcontent from the Shakespearean era, Christine Gomez writes that ?The malcontent mood in late Elizabethan and Jacobean drama may be traced to the political, economic, social and intellectual conditions of the age.?1 Politically, Hamlet feels left down and put aside for the crown. Claudius assures himself the crown by murdering the King while Hamlet is away at Wittenberg. Not only is Hamlet offe... ...ince of Denmark 17.12 (1995): 10-26. Eliot, T.S. ?Hamlet and His Problems.? Discussions of Hamlet. Ed. J.C. Levenson. Boston: D.C. Health and Company, 1960. Gomez, Christine. ?The Malcontent Strain in Hamlet.? Hamlet Studies: An International Journal of Research on The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark 14. 1-2 (1992): 67-73. Levin, Harry. ?The Antic Disposition.? The Question of Hamlet. New York: The Viking Press, 1967. Mowat, Barbara A. and Paul Werstine, eds. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. William Shakespeare. New York: Washington Square-Pocket Books, 1992. Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Ed. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. New York: Washington Square-Pocket Books, 1992. Wilson, J. Dover. ?Antic Disposition.? Discussions of Hamlet. Ed. J.C. Levenson. Boston: D.C. Health and Company, 1960.

Playing Basketball Essay -- Personal Narrative Essays

Playing Basketball Being part of the basketball clique in high school helped me learn the intrapersonal and social communication skills I use today. As a child playing basketball was my favorite activity or hobby. It's also the way I met a lot of my good friends that I have now. All my close friends I have met. I have met them through playing basketball.. Whether they were on my team, the opposing team or just fans in the crowd who admired my play. Not only has basketball helped me gain friends, but basketball also taught me a lot about life. There are many aspects of life that coincide with basketball. For instance basketball is a team game and an individual game. Like in life you have to work together with other people. The communication skills I learned from basketball helped me communicate with friends, girlfriends, parents and bosses at work.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I started playing basketball in the fifth grade. In the fifth grade I was a quiet and shy little boy. I rarely talked to my teammates and kept to myself. As the years went by I learned how to communicate with my teammates and my coaches and began to break out of my shell so to speak. I started making more and more friends that also went to my junior high. Basketball helped me meet a lot of new people. By the time I left junior high I had already a core group of friends I hung out with that I met from playing basketball.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I remember my first day of high school like it was yesterday. A lot of my friends were...

Delegation :: essays research papers

PAPER ON DELEGATION   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Introduction on the inside view in the Wireless industry, from the management point in delegating part of their management responsibilities. Explain how delegation could be used more effectively in planning, organizing, leading or controlling within the wireless industry. Also I will describe what skill are necessary for effective delegation and how to structure delegation. Structuring Delegation â€Å"The first step is to assess what decisions are made and who makes them, using not just your own judgments but the opinions of key managerial people and, more importantly, clerical people. Clerical people are the conduit through which most all-organizational information flows. If there are logjams, bottlenecks, or other problems keeping the organization from maximum effectiveness, they know. Ask in which areas you are helpful and in which areas you are part of the problem. You will be surprised at the perceptive responses. Some of them will directly confront your management style. Be objective and open to ideas in this step. Don't dismiss an idea too quickly because it involves the possibility of you having to change. Next, negotiate a small scope of delegated authority to a key person. Don't do this in five minutes. Take time to think it through as if you were the employee to which the authority was delegated. How would you like it to work?† www.strategicdevelopment.com/georgesmartaugust2000.htm   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In my store the manager has a chain of command that we follow in how we delegate responsibilities. Including an Assistant Store Manager, Operation Manager, Senior Sales Representative and Key holder, which is a senior representative that can perform al the duties above and act as the manager on duty when there is no manager around. I am going to explain some of the delegated duties of each position. The assistant store manger: Coach, develop and prepare sales team to meet and exceed defined sales, retention, quality, and service objectives. Manages the daily activities of all store staff, including sales, customer service, and inventory control. Design and implement initiatives and methods/procedures that will drive customer perception of company as the market leader in the wireless industry. The operation manager: responsible for managing and maintaining all inventory within the retail store, including phones, accessories, parts, and marketing materials; ensure physical and cycle count inventories are accurate and equipment is ready for issue on a first-in, first-out basis. The senior sales representative: serves as a multi-skilled member of the retail sales team. This position serves in a leadership capacity by meeting and exceeding sales and retention objectives.

Health Care System in Turmoil Essay

Is the health care system today really in Turmoil? What are some of the major problems that healthcare is experiencing? What is the impact of each of the chosen problems on not just consumers but also the community? What are some of the benefits and risks of national health insurance? The health care system has been in a bad position for a while now. Not only is the healthcare system in a bad position, but after the Affordable Care Act has taken affect there still several million citizens without health care coverage. This paper will be addressing these important questions about our Health care system. The current health care system as we know it is in trouble. Health care is still an issue and millions of Americans are still not insured and cannot afford to be. It is understandable that the United States has a lot more technology and cures that other countries do not, but the fact that our health care is double the price of other countries is mind boggling. The health care reform was supposed to be the answer to all the problems with our health care system and though it was extremely helpful, the system still doesn’t provide universal care for all of its citizens which is a huge problem. â€Å"For decades, health care policy leaders have focused on two huge problems in American health care finance. The first was the coverage problem—that the fraction of Americans with inadequate or no health insurance was substantial and growing. The second was the cost problem—that total health spending was high and rising, although quality was uneven† (Rivlin, A., 201 3). These two problems remain an issue for our health care system. Myers (2013) states that coverage alone is not enough. Instead focusing on things like having providers that are acceptable, also the care received should be effective. There can be plenty of providers that are available, but how beneficial are they if they are not providing quality care to patients. Quality and Value need to be a goal for the Health care system. Some necessary changes were made because of Affordable Care Act. This was just the beginning and more steps need to be taken in order to rectify our health care system. Renovation of the delivery of health care is necessary to make better connections in the chain. Coverage will be a great first step, following access to high- quality health care, and improving patient outcomes and population help. Coverage has a positive impact when it comes to the community but as far as the consumer it has a negative impact. Cost of Care is the second problem that is causing our Health care system to go in Turmoil. Affording Health care has always been one of the main issues with Health Care in the United States. The Affordable Care Act was signed by President Obama in 2010 and was taken into effect in 2014. It has provided millions of people with insurance who didn’t have it before but still leaves millions of citizens without. Having insurance is a tax, if it is not purchased a fine will be added to the 2014 tax return. So somehow everybody will be paying out of pocket cost for health care. The cost have reduced in some areas and have increased in others. The cost has a positive impact on millions of citizens â€Å"the community† who now have health insurance. Like mentioned previously there are still millions of citizens that can’t afford to have insurance so it has a negative impact on a portion of consumers. National Health insurance pose several risks. â€Å"At least three broad problems characterize U.S. health care and insurance: (1) high and rapidly growing costs, (2) large numbers of nonelderly people without insurance, and (3) enormous projected Medicare deficits and continued Medicaid cost growth. The health care reform debate and reform proposals have focused largely on expanding the number of people with health insurance† (Harrington, S., 2010). Instead of focusing on how many people we can get sign up for health care, we need to be looking into these important factors, because they are just as significant. Cost being one of the biggest issues, but also the  alarming number of non-elderly people without health insurance. Sometimes diseases could be caught early on if middle aged and younger adults had affordable health care to get checked out. Additionally Medicare deficits and continued Medicaid rising costs. There needs to be more focus on these issues in order to beg in to get the health care system where it needs to be. On the other hand, National Health insurance has several benefits, some of which have already began to take place. Mandating companies to provide insurance for their employees is a great example. According to Panning (2014) some of the benefits include financing, cost reduction, payment reform, quality and process improvement, and prevention and wellness. Financing referring to healthier and younger will subsidize part of the care of the less health and elderly patients. Cost reduction is pretty self-explanatory, decreasing the cost and evening out the rate of growth. Payment reform in the new Affordable Care Act will pay for outcomes and value achieved opposed to being rewarded for doing more. Quality and process improvement will include a quality indicator quantity and reporting as well as comparative efficiency research. Lastly Prevention and Wellness, investing and providing incentives for preventive medicine and wellness. Our health care system is unstable for several reasons. The Affordable Care Act was designed to provide not just insurance to everyone but affordable insurance. It has made a significant impact, but still has things that need to be worked out. National Health Insurance has risk and benefits, benefits outweighing the risks. One of the great benefits discussed previously was the mandating of employers having to offer their full-time employees health care coverage. Within the next ten years the Affordable Care Act is supposed to make a huge impact and save trillions of dollars. Hopefully this reform is the solution to our health care system’s problems and that one day everyone will have health insurance and doesn’t get in financial debt paying trying to pay for it. References: Harrington, S. E. (2010). The Health Insurance Reform Debate. Journal Of Risk And Insurance, 77(1), 5-38. Myers, C. R. (2013). Coverage is Not Enough: We Need a Transformation of the Delivery of Health Care!. Tennessee Nurse, 76(1), 1-14. Panning, R. (2014). Healthcare Reform 101. Clinical Laboratory Science, 27(2), 107-111. Rivlin, A. M. (2013). Health Reform: What Next?. Public Administration Review, 73S15-S20. doi:10.1111/puar.12091

Saint Mark’s Basilica

Saint Mark’s Basilica, which can be found in Venice Italy, has been considered to be the most important church in the said region since the early Christian period. However, it was only in 1807 when the said basilica became the official cathedral of Venice, replacing the Church of San Pietro di Castello. Due to its remarkable and authentic design, Saint Mark’s Basilica is noted as one of Europe’s most glorious and eccentric cathedrals. As it was said, no visitor or pilgrim can remain dispassionate about the specified cathedral once confronted by it (Belford, Dunford, Andrews, and Woolfrey). However, there are others who are confused once the details of the cathedral come into perspective. Whether it may appear delightful or not, analyzing the building’s history would help in understanding its eccentricities and would also shed light on its roles in religious faith and its contributions on the politics and prestige of Venice. The Story of the Basilica Situated at the heart of Venice, Italy, Saint Mark’s Cathedral has long been recognized as the leading representation of the Venetian faith and political memoir. True enough, such adherence to their religiosity is a result of the church and government’s embrace of Christianity as the leading force behind the cathedral’s establishment and the mark of religiosity among its citizens. From the past until the present, the Venetian government’s adage â€Å"Prima di tutto Venziani, poi Cristiani,† which, when translated in English, means â€Å"First above all Venetians, then Christians,† is considered as the defining factor of the Venetian living because it widely represents the subordination of the church to the state, yet the religion maintains its power over the republic because of its capability to represent the people’s beliefs. Venetians believe that Venice is God’s chosen city wherein he infused his grace through the aid of their patron saint, Saint Mark the Evangelist (Bershad, Mangone, and Hexham 205). The strong link that binds the spiritual faith and governance of Venice had its roots from the rich history of the renowned Saint Mark’s Basilica and the legends surrounding the interment of Saint Mark’s body in the said edifice. The Legends Three notable legends were said to be responsible for the rise of Saint Mark’s Cathedral as a religious representation of the people’s faith and the force behind Venice’s political array: The â€Å"praedestinato† (predestinate), â€Å"translatio† (translation), and the â€Å"inventio† (invention). Praedestinato claims that while preaching throughout Italy, Saint Mark, together with his companion, made a stop at the Venetian lagoons and formed an immediate bond with the people within the area. Upon returning to Rome, Saint Mark and his colleague encountered a storm leading them to sought temporary shelter in the Venetian lagoon. In his state of repose, an angel came to Saint Mark and told him â€Å"Pax tibi, Marcae. Hic requiescet corpus tuum† or â€Å"Peace Mark. Here your body will rest. The angel also informed Mark that at some point in history, the settlers in Venice would build his burial spot in that area, because if they do God will be giving them graces through Saint Mark’s intercession. With the given perspective it is believed that Christianity came about in Venice through Saint Mark (Bershad, Mangone and Hexham 205-206). The founder’s of Venice were said to have been notably persuaded by the idea of the city’s sacred ordination through th e intercession of Saint Mark’s body. Hence, in order to fulfill the specified angelic prophecy, it was said that Saint Mark’s body was stolen from Alexandria and was brought to Venice. This story then encompasses the second legend, the â€Å"translatio. † According to the legend, the theft of Saint Mark’s body occurred in 828. Venetian ships were blown off course and found Alexandria. An unnamed monk and a priest were members of the church that housed the remains of Saint Mark. The two holy men were befriended by two Venetian merchants named Bruno da Malamocco and Rustico da Torcello. In one event, the Muslims within the Alexandrian region threatened to destroy the church where Saint Mark’s body can be found. Hence, such threat catapulted Malamocco and Torcello to steal the Saint’s body and brought it to Venice to present it to the doge, the elected head of the state of Venice and Genoa (Bershad, Mangone, and Hexham 206). It is worthy to note that in those days, relics were regarded as powerful objects that serve as unifiers for social and economic entities because they attract both pilgrims and merchants alike. As such, relics were all welcomed, and that of Saint Mark was highly regarded because of the first legend that surrounds the patron’s intercession’s perceived grace. With the presentation of the acquired relic of Saint Mark to Doge Giustiniano Particiaco, the gift giving formed the permanent union between the spiritual and political realms of Venice (Bershad, Mangone and Hexham 206). According to legend, soon after the arrival of Saint Mark’s relics in 829, the first structure of the Saint Mark’s Basilica was commissioned. Modeled from the church of the 12 Apostles in Constantinople, the shrine of Saint Mark was then consecrated in 832. The third and final legend, the â€Å"inventio† or the apparition did not take place until 1094. During 976, an uprising against the doge caused a great fire that ruined the Palazzio Ducale (Ducale Palace) and the church that housed Saint Mark’s relics. Although the subsequent church was rebuilt right after the incident, the relics of the patron saint remained lost until 1094 despite numerous searches. A doge ordered a fast that tested the citizens’ piety and obedience. On the third day of the fast, a miracle took place. The ghost of Saint Mark was said to have appeared and filled the church with a sweet aroma. At that point, the basilica was consecrated, and Saint Mark’s body was finally laid to rest. The â€Å"inventio† was noted to have combined the religious and civic values among the Venetian’s because it is believed that right after the previous legends; God had given the Venetians their political authority. By replacing their former patron Saint Theodore, who has a symbolic link to the Byzantium, to Saint Mark, it is said that the Venetians finally acquired their freedom from the Byzantium (Bershad, Mangone, and Hexham 207). Saint Mark’s Basilica: Religious and Political Significance Over the course of the basilica’s history, the edifice played significant roles both in the accumulation of Venice’s political prowess and religious perspective. San Marco served as the mirror of Venice’s increasing power and self-confidence. Though initially created out of a spare brick building modeled to a Byzantine edifice, the basilica became a landmark that was completely and intricately detailed of luxurious embellishment which was derived from the donations of the faithful. As Venice attained its mastery within the Mediterranean area, the city became well-known as the location of the region’s most confessional shrine, marking Venice as the city free from the autonomy of any foreign influence (McGregor). As Saint Mark’s basilica became an important edifice to the whole city, a tutelary church which represents both the commune and the community, it has then become the annex of the state, an avenue where politics and religion meet (Jones). During its earlier phase, the doge was elected at the Ducal Palace and was then presented to the citizens from the Saint Mark Basilica’s right hand pulpit, which later on, upon the doge’s tenure, would become exclusively his (Procuratoria di San Marco Venezia). Back in the earlier part of the basilica’s development, the head of state was increasingly invested through semi-sacral powers. Hence, dogeship became an efficient and dignified part of the constitution, thereby placing the doge in the position that outranks the bishops and the patriarch. Under the banner of Saint Mark and under the leadership of the doge, the state then became a secular church which had their own traditions, iconography and feast days, enabled the people to practice patriotism and piety, and treated sovereignty as a divine possession (Jones). Saint Mark’s Basilica, being the state church, also served as an avenue for the city’s official ceremonies. Some of the notable ceremonies that took place in the basilica were the blessing of the soldiers, the 1177 Peace of Venice, 1201 assembly of Saint Mark’s crusaders from all of Europe that were about to depart to Holy Land to ask for protection and divine aid, and the 1377’s doge’s grant of leadership to defend the city addressed to Vettor Pisani. Other than these, Saint Mark’s Basilica was also considered as the rendezvous for prayer among the Venetians during moments of great pain such as the 1576 voting of building the temple of Christ the Redeemer, 1630’s prayer of intervention for the vote to build a temple for the virgin in order to free the city from plagues, and lastly during the end of Venice’s independence in 1797. The Basilica was also a reference point, for many merchants and sailors that journeyed by land and sea contributed in keeping the edifice a monumental mark of faith and a testimony of Venice’s greatness by giving out precious gifts, art treasures and marbles, which are still evident today (Procuratoria di San Marco Venezia). 12th of May 1797, the troops of Napoleon invaded the city of Venice. For the foregoing reason, Saint Mark’s basilica’s reign as the state church under the authority of the Doges of the Venetian Republic was brought to an end. It was in 1807 when the cathedral became the official seat for the Patriarch’s of Venice. Due to Napoleon’s orders, Saint Mark’s eventually lost the functions of the Doge’s chapel, and since then, it has been hailed as the city cathedral (Procuratoria di San Marco Venezia). Although some of the aforementioned functions of the cathedral were lost during Napoleon’s reign over Venice, it is still evident from the given facts that Saint Mark’s Basilica was one of the main forces that drove the once fragmented island of primitive Venice into a city that is unified by belief and nationalism. With the Basilica’s history and its link to the spread of Christianity, Saint Mark Cathedral continuously attracts thousand of pilgrims to date, adding up to the prestige of present day Venice. Saint Mark’s Basilica: A site of pilgrimage In the quest for a votive purpose, pilgrimage has been an important aspect in many religions because it embodies one’s faith over the divine deity. Long journeys toward a sacred place or shrine play a significant role not only in uplifting the faith of an individual but also in serving as an avenue to seek for moral significance. The focal point of pilgrimages is inclined to celebrating religion. Saint Mark’s Basilica is among the many holy places that are embarked upon by many pilgrims. The fact that that the relics of Saint Mark can be found in the said area, thousands of pilgrims yearly flock to Venice in order to seek his intervention through prayers. Being the center of the Venetian faith and once a political entity, Saint Mark’s Basilica can be seen as an avenue where one can witness the grandiosity of Venice balanced by its deep religiosity and history. As the eternal symbol of faith and Christendom, Saint Mark’s Cathedral is also well noted as the eternal representation of the city’s wealth, power, and history, as seen with its apostolic reliquary of arts that glorify the history of Venice and its role in the interconnectedness of the church and the state. For the foregoing, one can easily assume that Saint Mark’s Basilica, aside from its religious significance, also contributes to the prestige of Venice through pilgrimages. The site serves as an area for an economic phenomenon because of its capability to motivate the pilgrims to embark on a journey through its historical and inspiring account of miracles as well as the desire of the people to keep the spirit of Saint Mark alive. However, perhaps it should not be excluded that another reason for Saint Mark’s popularity, contributing to Venice’s prestige is indebted to its detailed architecture, mosaics and enough plundered sculptures that can satisfy any human. No other church in Europe is lavishly decorated, exquisitely mosaicked and more glittering than gold other than San Marco. Hence, it is also known as the â€Å"Chiesa De Oro† or the â€Å"Golden Church. † The spiritual material and Byzantium heritage of the West inspired the architecture of Saint Mark’s Basilica. The structure stands in a Greek cross plan, and above the cross are five cupolas which are said to represent the presence of God over the church (Procuratoria di San Marco Venezia). Covering the cathedral’s old ceilings, atriums, walls, and multiple domes are more than 8000 square meters of mosaics created between the 12th and 17th centuries by eastern masters. The mosaic represents biblical stories from the old and new testaments, allegorical individuals, and events in the lives of Christ, Virgin Mary, Saint Mark, and other saints. The interaction of the mosaics’ warm color, most especially gold with the dim light that changes color according to the time of the day, is said to promote evocative feelings among its visitors. More importantly, the mosaics serve as a significant evidence of the Venetian people’s ambitions and faith (Procuratoria di San Marco Venezia). The sculptures present within the church also add up to the richness of its history, as each culture is generated from different epochs and origins. Saint Mark’s treasures are also highly regarded because they are considered to be the richest documentation of the most refined items found in the basilica such as gold, silver and precious stones, which celebrate the craftsmanship of the Venetians. Pala d’Oro, the most important piece of treasure in the church, is the high altar that contains the relics of Venice’s patron saint, Saint Mark (Procuratoria di San Marco Venezia). Other than these, almost all of the areas found within the basilica like the baptistery alcove and the Marciano Museum are truly cultural treasures that add pride to the Venetian culture and religious perspective (Procuratoria di San Marco Venezia). Perhaps, the only disappointing aspect about the architecture of San Marco is the fact that the value of pilgrimage is undermined by the desire of the visitors to merely witness the basilica’s architecture and not to regard its spiritual value. Conclusion Based on the information provided, it can be gleaned that the Basilica of Saint Mark played a significant role in the religious and political aspect of the Venetians way of life. Religiously, the basilica was established out of the faith of the citizens that God chose the city of Venice to infuse his grace through the aid of Saint Mark. As such, the state, in its subjugation to the religion, used Saint Mark’s Basilica as the edifice that would serve as the testimony of Venetian faith and political power. Other than this, as the tutelary church of Venice, Saint Mark’s Basilica was a strong symbolism of community and commune where the state citizens, despite being run by Doges, believed that they were under God’s grace, and that the interconnectedness of the church and the state was endowed by God to be supported. Most importantly, Saint Mark’s Basilica served as an important force that unified the whole city of Venice. From a city that was once a refuge for people of dependence to the Byzantium, the basilica became the focal point of the Venetians’ freedom from Byzantium regime. Currently, the rich history and religious significance of Saint Mark’s Basilica is still evident through the maintenance of the edifice together with Saint Mark’s relics. The basilica’s spread of Christendom continued as well through the pilgrims who sought to uplift their faith and seek for their moral significance. By allowing people to venture inside the basilica, modern day people are able to take a glimpse of the face of past Christendom and would be able to imbibe within themselves the contribution of the said church in the spread of Christian faith. In this sense, Saint Mark’s Basilica then and now truly adds prestige to the Venetian culture.