Discover

A 'cornerstone' (or 'foundation stone') is a ceremonial masonry stone, or facsimile, set in a prominent location on the outside of a building, with an inscription on the stone indicating the construction dates of the building and the names of architect, builder and other significant individuals. The ceremony of laying a cornerstone is an important cultural component of western architecture.
Some cornerstones include time capsules from the time a particular building was built. The origins of this tradition are vague but its presence in Judeo-Christian countries can be associated with one quotation from the Old Testament () cited six times in the New Testament (,, , , and ).
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire edifice.

Contents

History

Modern Practices

Freemasonry

Ecclesiastical

Western Churches

Eastern Churches

Other

Notes

See also

External Link

History

In ancient buildings, the foundation stone was placed at the north-east corner of the structure. This was thought to be an auspicious position.
Often, the ceremony involved the placing of offerings of grain, wine and oil on or under the stone. These were symbolic of the produce and the people of the land and the means of their subsistence. This in turn derived from the practice in still more ancient times of making an animal or human sacrifice that was laid in the foundations.
The Celts/Romans would sacrifice young children to appease the spirits of the river when building a bridge - common folklore of urchin spirits clinging onto bridges is a demonstration of the memory of that rite.

Modern Practices

In modern practice, normally, a VIP of the organization, or a local celebrity or community leader, will be invited to conduct the ceremony of figuratively beginning the foundations of the building, with the person's name and official position and the date usually being recorded on the stone. This person is usually asked to place their hand on the stone or otherwise signify its laying.
Often still, and certainly until the 1970s, most ceremonies involved the use of a specially manufactured and engraved trowel that had a formal use in laying mortar under the stone. Similarly, a special hammer was often used to ceremonially tap the stone unto place in the mortar.
The foundation stone often has a cavity into which is placed a time capsule containing newspapers of the day or week of the ceremony plus other artifacts that are typical of the period of the construction: Coins of the year may also be immured in the cavity or time capsule.

Freemasonry

In Freemasonry, which grew from the practice of stonemasons, the initiate (Entered Apprentice) is placed in the north-east corner of the Lodge as a figurative foundation stone.
The establishment of a new Masonic building is accompanied by a ceremony that perpetuates the formal ceremonies described above.

Ecclesiastical

A cornerstone (Greek: Άκρογωνιεîς, Latin: Primarii Lapidis) will sometimes be referred to as a "foundation-stone", and is symbolic of Christ, who referred to himself as the "head of the corner" and is the "Chief Cornerstone of the Church" (). Many of the more ancient churches will place relics of the saints, especially martyrs, in the foundation stone.

Western Churches

According to the pre-Vatican II rite of the Roman Catholic Church: Before the construction of a new church begins, the foundations of the building are clearly marked out and a wooden cross is set up to indicate where the altar will stand. Once preperations have been made, the bishop—or a priest delegated by him for that purpose—will bless holy water and with it sprinkle first the cross that was erected and then the foundation stone itself. Upon the stone he is directed to engrave crosses on each side with a knife, and then pronounce the following prayer: "Bless, O Lord, this creature of stone (''creaturam istam lapidis'') and grant by the invocation of Thy holy name that all who with a pure mind shall lend aid to the building of this church may obtain soundness of body and the healing of their souls. Through Christ Our Lord, Amen."
After this, the Litany of the Saints is said, followed by an antiphon and (Psalm 126 in the Septuagint), which appropriately begins with the verse, "Except the Lord build the house, in vain do they labour that build it". Then the stone is lowered into its place with another prayer and again sprinkled with holy water. More antiphons and psalms follow, while the bishop sprinkles the foundations, dividing them into three sections and ending each with a special prayer. Finally, ''Veni Creator Spiritus'' is sung, and two short prayers. Then the bishop, if he deems it opportune, sits down and exhorts the people to contribute to the construction, appointments and maintenance of the new church, after which he dismisses them with his blessing and the proclamation of an indulgence.

Eastern Churches

In the Eastern Orthodox Church the blessing of the bishop must be obtained before construction on a new church may commence, and any clergyman who ventures to do so without a blessing can be deposed. The "Rite of the Foundation of a Church" (i.e., the laying of the cornerstone) will differ slightly depending on whether the church is to be constructed of wood or of stone. Even when a church is built of wood, the cornerstone must in fact be made of stone.
The cornerstone is a solid stone cube upon which a cross has been carved. Below the cross, the following words are inscribed:

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, this church is founded, in honour and memory of (''here the name of the patron saint of the new church is inserted''); in the rule of (''here the name of the ruler is inserted''); in the episcopacy of (''here the name of the bishop is inserted''); in the Year of the World _____ (Anno Mundi), and from the Birth in the flesh of God the Word _____ (Anno Domini).

In the top of the stone a cross-shaped space is hollowed out into which relics may be placed. Relics are not required, but they are normally placed in the cornerstone. If no relics are inserted in the stone, the inscription may be omitted, but not the cross.
After the foundations for the new church have been dug and all preperations finished, the bishop (or his deputy) with the other clergy vest and form a crucession to the building site. The service begins with a moleben and the blessing of holy water. Then a cross is erected in the place where the Holy Table (altar) will stand, and the cornerstone is consecrated and set in place.^{[1] [1]}

Other

A 'cornerstone' is also a concept which provides the basic tools for understanding or manipulating a larger intellectual edifice.

Notes

1.
2.

See also

★ Topping out

★ Builders' rites

★ Phurba

★ Golden spike

★ Dome of the Rock Foundation Stone

★ Dedication

★ Consecration

External Link

★ Placing of Foundation Stone (Russian Orthodox Church)

★ Blessing and laying Foundation Stone (Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church)

★ Pope Benedict XVI blessing a foundation stone in Poland