Shrines of Italy: Parish of Saint George

The parish of Saint George is poised majestically over a small suburb on the outskirts of Pordenone, and is actually located just a few blocks away from the Cathedral of Mark, one of Pordenone’s most notable attractions. Designed in the late seventeen hundreds, the church bears a familiar neoclassical style common to many churches of the same era. A quick look inside however, reveals that the parish of Saint George is much more detailed than many of its contemporary counterparts. This fact is due primarily to the richly colored patterns engraved in the tiles above the main altar, as well as those covering the floor of the church itself.

Perhaps the most unique feature of this church however, is a prominent side-altar which contains a luminous display dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. And while this display is breathtaking in its own right, it is by no means the only decoration intended to inspire devotion. Directly opposite of this display is an additional side altar dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the placement of which may well have been deliberate on part of the designer, as if to emphasize the complementary relationship between Christ and His Holy Mother. Additionally, there are several more side altars located throughout the main building, including one dedicated to the martyrdom of Saints Paul, Lucy, and Sebastian.

 If you explore the parish of St. George closely enough, you will also find a small prayer niche containing a memorial of the Passion of Christ. It’s a unique display, and one which makes the parish of Saint George truly stand out among the many churches in and around Aviano.