Maria Theotokos Shrine in Loppiano

The Shrine is located in the Cittadella di Loppiano, spiritual centre of the Focolari Movement. The contemporary architecture building was established by Chiara Lubich, founder of the Movement, and built by the Centro Ave Arte studio, thanks to the donations of the faithful and the contribution of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

The building, inaugurated in 2004, is dedicated to Maria Theotokos, translated from the Greek into 'the one who gives birth to God'. The structure itself celebrates her greatness: the aged copper roof of the church extends from the ground towards the sky, as a conduit, just like the Mother of God brings the divine to earth. The inclined plane, blue-green in colour, culminates with the bell tower, the latter covered by a golden triangular pitch, an explicit trinitarian reference.

More references to the Blessed Virgin are found inside: the central entrance features a big bronze gate, made by the Argentinian artist Maria Cristina Criscola, a symbol of "Mary, Gate of Heaven"; the church is dominated by the colours of the bright glass windows that run along the walls and tell of the passion of Jesus and the Vita Mariae, a work by the Portuguese painter Dina Figueiredo. Affixed on the right is a large and precious painting, made by the Indian artist Kalaichelvan, portraying Mary with Child. Each part, from the altar carved from a single block of stone to the chapel, located in the brightest spot of the Shrine, is conceived as a reference, sometimes explicit and at other times more subtle, to religious symbolism.