The Body of the Church

On the side opposite the cave, the eastern side, the church itself was built: a noble work rising to a vast height, and of great extent in both length and breadth. Inside, it was floored with marble slabs of various colors, while the outer face of the walls, which shone with polished stones closely fitted together, showed a splendor in no way inferior to marble. The roof was covered on the outside with lead, as a protection against the winter rains. But the inner part of the roof, finished with carved paneling, stretched over the whole church in a series of connected compartments, like a vast sea; and since it was overlaid throughout with the purest gold, it made the whole building glitter as if with rays of light. [a]