About Howard Kramer

Thanksgiving is almost upon us, with this year marking the 399th anniversary of the arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts.  2020 will mark four centuries of the American experience, at least as counted since the founding of the Plymouth colony.  In anticipation of this, major events are being planned for next year across the United States, … [Read more...]

America has fought in many battles and in many wars. And like its European counterparts during the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, America commemorated its military history with countless memorials.  The United States is packed with them.  Tens of thousands of monuments, from life-sized statues of heroes in the town square to immense obelisks that overlook aging … [Read more...]

On October 31st of last year, Lutherans in Germany and Protestants everywhere celebrated the 500th anniversary of one of the most pivotal events in world history: Martin Luther nailing his fabled 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.  This unassuming action inadvertently kicked off what later became known as the Protestant Reformation, fracturing the power … [Read more...]

There are few beings in theology or literature that have engendered more dread, and fascination, than the Devil.  Called by many names, the Devil, or Satan as he is most commonly referred to in the western world, has played a role in pop culture almost since the beginning of time, especially among the Abrahamic faiths.  The Devil was mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments … [Read more...]

In the days of the ancient Temple, it was required on Yom Kippur for the high priest of Israel to enter the Holy of Holies and place sacrifices before the Ark of the Covenant. Unfortunately, the location of the Ark of the Covenant has been uncertain for well over two and a half millennium.    Created sometime around the 14th century BC, it was the repository for some of the … [Read more...]

When it comes to places of historic Jewish interest, it is Israel, Europe and the United States that most readily come to mind.  Some might also consider the many other places of Jewish interest that can be found scattered throughout the Middle East.  But not many would immediately think of Central Asia or the Far East.  Nevertheless, the Diaspora spread as far as India and … [Read more...]

If you Google the term “world’s oldest churches” and look at the first dozen links, chances are you will get a dozen different lists.  Most lists will include the House Church of Dura Europas in Syria.  Others typically named are the Meggido Church in Israel, the Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Armenia, the Hagia Sophia in Turkey, St. Peter’s Basilica in Italy and Trier Cathedral in … [Read more...]

Christianity has many branches, some going back nearly two thousand years. When asked if they can name some major denominations, American Christians typically think of Protestantism, Roman Catholicism and Anglicanism (churches in communion with the Church of England).  To a lesser extent some might think of the Eastern Orthodox Churches (such as that of Greek or Russia).  But … [Read more...]

The first westerners to arrive in most of the Rocky Mountain states were, not surprisingly, Catholic missionaries: Spanish missionaries into the southern Rockies and French missionaries into the northern Rockies.  Just as they did in Texas and California, these early Catholic explorers left behind a string of missions, many of which are the oldest churches (and often oldest … [Read more...]

Few continents fire the imagination of the traveler as much as Europe. Every year, millions of visitors from around the world descend on the heart of Western Civilization, intent on exploring its thousands of years of history and culture.  And no trip to Europe is complete without visiting at least one historic church, and there are thousands to choose from.  The problem is, … [Read more...]