There are three Orthodox cathedrals in the world that can equally claim the title of "the largest church in the world." One of them is the most spacious - this is Tsminda Sameba in Tbilisi. The other is the largest in size: this is the Cathedral of St. Sava in Serbian Belgrade. And finally, the highest cathedral is the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.
Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. Its height of 103 meters is almost a 40-storey building. But the architect of the temple, Konstantin Ton, created such proportions that from the side the cathedral does not seem so high or large. Big? Yes. The largest or the more so the highest - no.
You begin to realize the scale when you find yourself inside. The size of the central altar is like a parish church. Vaults - breathtaking.
At the same time, unlike Catholic cathedrals, the dimensions of which are also amazing, in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior there is no feeling that you are a small person (they say this is a feature of the Latin style - to give a person the feeling that he is an ant compared to God). You are part of the whole building, this is your home. A feeling that is so close to an Orthodox church...
This cathedral had an unusual and difficult history - to start with the fact that initially it was supposed to be completely different (quite completely), and stand not on Volkhonka, but Sparrow Hills. But this .
The tallest Orthodox cathedrals in the world
So, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior is the highest Orthodox church in the world - 103 meters.
But the height of which other cathedrals exceeds 90 or 100 meters:
101.5 meters - St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg. An example, just, of “Latin” architecture, when a temple is not only a temple, but also a majestic castle, which either “lifts” you into the heights, or “presses”, it’s not clear ...
97.5* - Tsminda Sameba, Tbilisi, Georgia. The asterisk is worth it, because a variety of data are given everywhere - up to 86 meters without a cross. This is connected both with the design feature of the Cathedral (part of it goes underground for 10 meters), and with the fact - to consider the cross as part of the building or not: and it is seven and a half meters ...
96.0 - Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral in Khabarovsk. Built in 2004 year. Unlike the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, it has more elongated proportions and therefore it seems much higher.
93,7 - Smolny Cathedral , again Peter and again an example of the "Latin" style. As architecture - Rastrelli's unconditional masterpiece: an absolutely perfect composition. But once inside, you understand why it is so important to appreciate and honor traditions in temple building...
If we take Europe, then there will be the highest Orthodox church Cathedral of the Three Saints in Timisoara e, Romania - 83 meters. Here it is: (pay attention to the tradition in Orthodox architecture that is different from ours - it is completely familiar to Eastern Europe)
The largest temple
Tsminda Sameba in Tbilisi (Georgia), Trinity Cathedral, Holy Trinity Church - the largest Orthodox church in the world. Generally speaking, some consider it also the highest - 105 meters. But this is the height together with the 7.5-meter cross, and even then - at best, the data varies too much from source to source.
But one fact is indisputable - this is the only Orthodox Cathedral which can accommodate 15,000 people.
Like the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the cathedral was built exclusively on donations: from ordinary Georgians to big businessmen. Construction was completed in 2004.
The temple was designed with echoes of the traditional Georgian temple style - like the Cathedral of Christ the Savior with elements of the old Russian style.
The cathedral stands on a hill on the banks of the Kura River, visible from everywhere.
Tsminda Sameba, as is often the case with large cathedrals, includes not only a central, amazing temple, but also nine chapels, which are located underground at a depth of more than 10 meters (perhaps, hence such large discrepancies in the height of the building, and someone else takes into account underground structures).
But what other churches, not counting the Trinity Cathedral, are among the "five" of the most spacious (all figures are estimated, that is, approximate):
- 14,000 people - St. Isaac's Cathedral (St. Petersburg)
- 12 000 - St. Michael's Cathedral (Cherkasy, Ukraine)
- 11,000 - St. Sava Cathedral (Belgrade, Serbia)
- 10,000 - this is several temples at once: the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (Moscow); the temple of the Volkmic Panteleimon (Athens, Greece); Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral (Odessa, Ukraine); Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Jerusalem, Israel)
The largest Orthodox church
Well, if by the size of the temple we mean its width multiplied by the length, then the largest Orthodox church is the Serbian Cathedral in the name of St. Sava in Belgrade.
Its length is 91 meters, width - 81 meters (for comparison: Tsminda Sameba - 77 by 65 meters, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior - 60 by 60).
This is a "long-term construction" in the truest sense of the word. Construction began in 1935. Then the war happened, then - Soviet authority. Work resumed only in 1986. As far as we know, finishing work is almost finished now.
The cathedral is very squat in proportion. With its huge size, it is 24 meters lower than the Cathedral of Christ the Savior - "only" 79 meters.
At the top of the four-ton central dome (they say it was raised for more than a month!) There is a huge, 12-meter gilded cross, and on other domes there are seventeen more crosses. And a few dozen more bells, the largest of which weighs 12 tons!
But these are all just numbers.
The greatness of any temple is not in meters - but in the assembly of Christians. At the funeral of Patriarch Pavel in 2009, more than a million people gathered around the cathedral.
Every great cathedral carries two destinies
- the first is the fate of the temple, in which the Sacraments are performed, and where thousands of people can gather in a single impulse to Christ.
- the second fate - or rather the "cross" - is the role of a symbol (city, or country), which is doomed to be a tourist destination. That is, a holy place reduced in the eyes of people to just a beautiful building, drowning in fuss, flashlights and conversations ...
The second is probably inevitable, but we must always remember how tourism differs from pilgrimage and not stand near the cathedrals as favorable tourists:
The tourist looks at the buildings "top-down";
and the pilgrim feels himself in the house of the Heavenly Father.
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Cathedral of Christ the Savior
height: 103 meters
Cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Savior (Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ) in Moscow - Cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church near the Kremlin on the left bank of the Moscow River. The existing building is an external reconstruction of the temple of the same name, created in the 19th century, carried out in the 1990s. The names of officers of the Russian army who fell in the war of 1812 and other close military campaigns were inscribed on the walls of the temple.
The original temple was erected in memory of the Napoleonic invasion: "to preserve eternal memory of that unparalleled zeal, fidelity and love for the Faith and the Fatherland, with which the Russian people exalted themselves in these difficult times, and in commemoration of Our gratitude to the Providence of God, which saved Russia from the death that threatened her. It was designed by the architect Konstantin Ton. Construction lasted almost 44 years: the temple was founded on September 23, 1839, consecrated on May 26, 1883.
The newly built Cathedral of Christ the Savior is considered the largest cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church. The temple is designed for
10,000 people
Saint Isaac's Cathedral
height: 101.5 meters
Saint Isaac's Cathedral ( official name- Cathedral of St. Isaac of Dalmatia) - the largest Orthodox church in St. Petersburg. Located on St. Isaac's Square. Has the status of a museum; the church community, registered in June 1991, has the opportunity to worship according to special days with the permission of the museum directorate. It was consecrated in the name of the Monk Isaac of Dalmatia, revered as a saint by Peter I, since the emperor was born on the day of his memory - May 30 according to the Julian calendar.
Built in 1818-1858 by architect Auguste Montferrand; the construction was supervised by Emperor Nicholas I, the chairman of the construction commission was Karl Opperman.
St. Isaac's Cathedral - an outstanding example of late classicism
Transfiguration Cathedral
height: 96 meters
The Transfiguration Cathedral is an Orthodox cathedral in Khabarovsk, built on the steep bank of the Amur in 2001-2004. According to a number of sources, it is the third highest church in Russia after the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow and St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, as well as the tallest building in Khabarovsk.
The height of the domes of the Transfiguration Cathedral is 83 meters, the height with crosses is 95 meters. For comparison, the height of the Radio House, located next to the temple, is a little over 40 meters. The temple was designed by architects Yuri Zhivetiev, Nikolai Prokudin and Evgeny Semyonov. The frescoes inside the temple (on the dome of the Almighty Savior and the Apostles) were made by a group of Moscow artists, specially invited to Khabarovsk on this occasion by Bishop Mark of Khabarovsk and Amur. Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral is able to simultaneously receive three thousand parishioners.
Smolny Cathedral
height: 93.7 meters
Smolny Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (Smolny Cathedral) is part of architectural ensemble Smolny Monastery, which is located in St. Petersburg on the left bank of the Neva on the Smolnaya embankment. It is also a concert venue for classical music.
According to the layout of the ensemble of the Smolny Monastery (stored in the Museum of the Academy of Arts), a high 140-meter five-tiered bell tower was to be built. Thus, the height of this bell tower by 18 meters would exceed the height of the spire of the bell tower Peter and Paul Cathedral, and could become the tallest building in Europe. The first tier of the bell tower was supposed to serve as a triumphal arch - the main entrance to the monastery, the second - the gate church, and the belfries were to be located in the remaining three. The bell tower was to be completed by a small turret with three round windows and a dome with a cross crowning it.
However, contrary to popular belief, the ensemble of the Smolny Monastery was left without a bell tower at the behest of Rastrelli himself, and not because of a lack of funds (the construction of the bell tower was suspended in 1756, before Russia entered the Seven Years' War), although both of these facts could become decisive.
and here is the layout of "Smolny"
Alexander Nevsky New Fair Cathedral
height: 87 meters
The Cathedral of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky (Novoyarmarochny) is an Orthodox cathedral (since 2009) in Nizhny Novgorod. It was built in 1868-1881 according to the project of the architect L.V. Dahl.
In the protruding western vestibule, on the choirs of the large cathedral, there is the winter church of Macarius Zheltovodsky and Unzhensky.
In 1856, the fair merchants expressed a desire to build a second Orthodox fair church in memory of Emperor Alexander II's visit to the fair and applied for the construction of a new cathedral to Bishop Anthony of Nizhny Novgorod, who, in turn, to Governor A. N. Muravyov. Donations were collected. The necessary funds (454 thousand 667 rubles 28 kopecks) were collected over 10 years.
On September 8, 1864, a symbolic laying of a stone in the foundation of the future temple took place. By 1864, the project of the provincial architect R. Ya. Kilevein was ready. It had to be reworked due to insufficient strength; after that, it turned out that there was not enough funding for such a project. The new project proposed by the young architect L.V. Dahl was also not approved.
On November 18, 1865, the project of the church was approved by the government. The authorship of the government-approved project has not yet been established accurately. In 1866, L. V. Dal returned to Nizhny Novgorod for permanent residence from abroad and finalized the design of the cathedral.
Blagoveshchensky cathedral
height: 85 meters
Cathedral of the Annunciation is an Orthodox church of the Russian Orthodox Church, located in the center of the city of Voronezh. It was built according to the project of the architect V.P. Shevelev in the Russian-Byzantine style. The cathedral is located on Revolution Avenue on the territory of Pervomaisky Garden. Construction was carried out from 1998 to 2009. The construction of the temple was blessed by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II during his visit to Voronezh.
In Voronezh, the Annunciation Cathedral (until 1836), the Smolensk Trinity Cathedral (closed in 1932), and the Intercession Cathedral (from 1948 to the present) had the status of a cathedral. The first two cathedrals were destroyed in their time.
Different researchers give different dates for the founding of the Cathedral of the Annunciation. Metropolitan of Kiev Eugene (Bolkhotnikov) believed that it was founded in 1620. Others believed that the date of foundation should be taken as 1586, that is, the year the city of Voronezh was founded.
Initially, the Church of the Annunciation was built of wood. Due to frequent fires, the temple was rebuilt, sometimes even moved to another place.
Savior on Spilled Blood
height: 81 meters
The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ on Blood or the Church of the Savior on Blood in St. Petersburg is an Orthodox memorial single-altar church in the name of the Resurrection of Christ; It was built in memory of the fact that on this place on March 1, 1881, as a result of an assassination attempt, Emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded (the expression on the blood indicates the blood of the king). The temple was built as a monument to the Tsar-Martyr with funds collected from all over Russia.
It is located in the historical center of St. Petersburg on the banks of the Griboedov Canal next to the Mikhailovsky Garden and Konyushennaya Square, not far from the Field of Mars. The height of the nine-domed temple is 81 m, the capacity is up to 1600 people. It is a museum and a monument of Russian architecture.
On March 1, 1881, on the embankment of the Catherine Canal, Emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded as a result of an attack by the Narodnaya Volya terrorist I. I. Grinevitsky.
Already on March 2, at an emergency meeting, the City Duma asked Emperor Alexander III, who had ascended the throne, "to allow the city public administration to erect ... a chapel or a monument at the expense of the city." He replied: "It would be desirable to have a church ... and not a chapel." However, it was still decided to build a temporary chapel.
The project was entrusted to the architect L. N. Benois. The work was carried out quickly, so that on April 17, 1881, the chapel was consecrated and commemorative requiems began to be held in it. It cost practically nothing to the Duma: it was installed by the merchant of the 1st guild Gromov, the construction work was paid for by the merchant Militin, who also became the headman. This chapel remained on the embankment until the beginning of the construction of the temple - until the spring of 1883, after which it was moved to Konyushennaya Square, where it stood for another 9 years and was finally dismantled.
Trinity Izmailovsky Cathedral
height: 80 meters
Trinity-Izmailovsky Cathedral (Trinity Cathedral) - Orthodox Cathedral on Trinity Square in the Admiralteysky district of St. Petersburg. Full name - Holy Cathedral Life-Giving Trinity Life Guards of the Izmailovsky Regiment.
The parish of the temple belongs to the St. Petersburg diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, is part of the Admiralty deanery district. Rector - Archpriest Gennady Bartov.
Under Emperor Peter I, a wooden chapel stood on this site.
After the flood, the architect V.P. Stasov was asked to develop a project for a new stone church. At the same time, the old wooden church should have remained a model.
The laying of the new church was made on May 13 (25), 1828 by Metropolitan Seraphim (Glagolevsky). The celebration was attended by Empress Maria Feodorovna and Tsarevich Alexander Nikolaevich. The construction was carried out at the personal expense of Emperor Nicholas I and government money. The cost of building the cathedral was 3 million rubles. Four years later, the building was rough ready and interior decoration began. During the construction process, it was necessary to restore the dome, which was torn down by a storm on February 23 (March 7), 1834, and rewrite some of the images.
Trinity Cathedral
height: 78 meters
The Holy Trinity Cathedral in Pskov is an Orthodox church, the cathedral of the Pskov and Velikoluksky diocese. It is part of the architectural ensemble of the Pskov Krom and is its main building.
Today's fourth building of the cathedral was built in 1699, in the same place where the previous temples stood. The first cathedral, built in the 10th century, by order of Princess Olga, was wooden, and stood until the first half of the 12th century, when it was destroyed by fire. The second cathedral was already made of stone and, according to church legend, was founded in 1138 by the holy noble prince Vsevolod Mstislavich.
In 1363 the vault of the temple collapsed and in 1365 a new cathedral was laid on the old foundation. In 1609, during a strong fire, a gunpowder warehouse exploded in the Kremlin, and the third building of the cathedral was destroyed by the blast wave. In 1699, the construction of the fourth cathedral, which has survived to this day, was completed.
Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery
height: 77 meters
Nikolo-Ugresh Monastery is an Orthodox male stauropegial monastery. Located at the address: Moscow region, mountains. Dzerzhinsky, St. Nicholas Square, 1 (m. Lyublino).
The monastery was founded in 1380 by Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy on the site of the appearance of the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. According to legend, it was in this place that the army of the Grand Duke stopped to rest on the way to the Kulikov field. The appearance of the icon strengthened Dmitry Donskoy with faith and hope, which is why the Holy Blessed Prince said “This is all sinning my heart” (“It all warmed my heart”). Since then, this place has been called Ugresha, and the monastery itself has been called Nikolo-Ugreshsky.
The monastery was repeatedly burned and ruined, but quickly restored. In 1521, the monastery was burned to the ground during a raid on Moscow by the Crimean Khan Mehmed I Giray, but, as in previous cases, it was quickly restored.
Ascension Cathedral
height: 74.6 meters
Ascension Military Cathedral - an Orthodox church in Novocherkassk, the second cathedral of the Rostov and Novocherkassk diocese and main temple Don Cossacks. The remains of the Don atamans M. I. Platov, V. V. Orlov-Denisov, I. E. Efremov, Ya. P. Baklanov are buried here.
After the Ruski brothers left Russia in 1818, the construction of the cathedral was continued by the architect Amvrosimov. In 1846, during the reduction of the main dome, part of the temple suddenly collapsed. The same thing happened in 1863 with the second version of the cathedral, built according to the project of I. O. Valprede.
Initially, all the domes of the cathedral were covered with pure gold, and main cross encrusted with rock crystal. The height of the central dome with a cross reaches 74.6 meters. In Soviet times, the gilded copper coating was removed from the domes, instead the temple was to be covered with sheets of iron, but this was not done for a long time and the building was constantly exposed to the elements of nature - it was flooded, covered with snow, and the heating system was also disabled. In 1903-1923 the priest-martyr Zacharias (Lobov) was the dean of the cathedral. In 1934, the Ascension Cathedral was closed, the building itself was used as a warehouse.
The cathedral was reopened in 1942, during the German occupation. In the post-war years, a food warehouse was located in the basement, and church services were held upstairs. In 2001, large-scale restoration work began. In 2005, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Novocherkassk and the 100th anniversary of the opening of the cathedral, the restoration of the facade of the building was successfully completed. Equipped with lighting and projection system biblical stories to the facade. In 2010-2011, the domes were again covered with gold sheets, and a rock crystal stone was inserted into the cross.
Cathedral of Christ the Savior
height: 73 meters
The Cathedral of Christ the Savior is the main Orthodox church in Kaliningrad, designed by architect Oleg Kopylov. Designed for 3,000 people. Height (up to the cross) reaches 73 meters. The temple is located on the central square of Kaliningrad - Victory Square. The temple was built in the style of Vladimir-Suzdal temple architecture.
It has been under construction since 1995 (the foundation stone has been installed). In 1996, the President of Russia B. Yeltsin and Metropolitan Kirill laid a capsule with earth taken from the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior at the base of the building. The construction was actively promoted by the governor of the region L. Gorbenko.
The upper Church of the Resurrection of Christ was consecrated on September 10, 2006 by Patriarch Alexy II, the consecration was timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the opening of the first Orthodox church in Kaliningrad.
The lower temple serves as a temple of military glory and is a memorial temple in memory of Russian soldiers who died in the Seven Years' War, the Napoleonic Wars, the First world war and World War II in East Prussia, the current Kaliningrad region.
Early Christian architecture became last period ancient architecture, and differed from the previous one by the special organization of the internal space and the use of new techniques of fine art.
The first Christian churches were officially erected in the 4th century and this process is associated with the name of Emperor Constantine.
They tried to make the place where God is glorified majestic and monumental, therefore many religious buildings were large. Consider the masterpieces of world architecture, and find out which is the largest Catholic cathedral.
Cologne Cathedral. Cologne
The most beautiful cathedral in German Cologne was built in the classic Gothic style, inherent in the Middle Ages. The first stone in the foundation of the new building was laid in 1248, but the construction lasted for several centuries.
The Catholic shrine acquired its final form in the 80s of the XIX century. It was then that the spiers were completed, which shot up into the sky by 157 meters, which made the church one of the highest in the world.
One of the legends says that with the completion of the construction of the cathedral in Cologne, the end of the world will come, so the building is constantly being rebuilt, introducing new architectural elements.
Cathedral in modern architecture Holy Mother of God in Milan is considered the largest building erected from white marble. It is made in the classic flaming Gothic style, which is characterized by ornate elements and intricate ornamentation.
It was built over 5 centuries, and the first stone was laid back in 1386. The appearance of the temple is unique, and thousands of tourists come to enjoy the splendor of the building and its interior decoration.
In a country where Christian shrines are zealous, Prime Minister Berlusconi was once thrown with a model of the Milan Cathedral.
The Prague Church, built in honor of Christian saints, is considered the longest religious building of Catholicism. A masterpiece of architecture, a real pearl of the capital and a sample of the Gothic style.
Like many places of worship, The Church of St. Vitus was erected over a long period of time and repeatedly rebuilt. The interior is decorated with carved arches and many stained glass windows. The walls are painted by the best masters of Renaissance painting, and the columns are lined with beautiful mosaics.
Catholics around the world gather on the eve Christian holidays to touch the shrines. Inside the temple there is a mausoleum and crypts where emperors, their wives and bishops rest.
Today we want to acquaint you with the list of the largest churches in the world. This rating is based on many different criteria.
The Basilica of the Blessed Virgin of Lichen is a Roman Catholic church located in the village of Lichen Stary near the town of Konin, Poland. It was built with donations from pilgrims between 1994 and 2004 according to the design of Barbara Beletskaya. The temple, 120 meters long and 77 meters wide, has 365 windows representing the number of days in a year and 52 doors representing the number of weeks. The height of the tower is 141.5 meters. Today it is the largest church in Poland and one of the largest in the world. The square in front of the basilica can accommodate about 250,000 people.
In ninth place in the list of the largest churches in the world is the “Church Holy Trinity” - a Catholic church located in the city of Fatima, Portugal. It was built with donations from pilgrims (€ 80 million) between 2004–2007. designed by the Greek architect A. Tombazis. The church, 95 meters long, 115 meters wide and 20 meters high, can accommodate 9,000 believers at the same time.
Notre Dame de la Paix
Notre Dame de la Paix is a Roman Catholic church located in Yamoussoukro, the capital of Ivory Coast. Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix with an area of 30,000 square meters and a height of 158 m (one of the tallest churches in the world) is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest church in the world. The basilica was built between 1985–1989. Its construction is estimated at $ 300 million. The interior of the church can simultaneously accommodate about 18,000 believers. The square in front of the temple can accommodate another 200,000 people.
The Sacré-Coeur Basilica is a Catholic basilica located in the Elisabeth Park on top of the Koekelberg hill in the Belgian capital city of Brussels. It is the largest Art Deco building in the world and can accommodate up to 3,500 people. It is 89 meters high, 164.5 meters long and 107 meters wide.
Liverpool Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral located in Liverpool, Merseyside, UK. It is the main church of the diocese of Liverpool and the largest church in the UK. Its construction began in 1904 according to the project of the architect Giles Gilbert Scott, but the cathedral was fully completed only in 1978. It covers an area of 9687 m². Its length is 188 m, height is 101 m.
The fifth place in the ranking of the largest cathedrals in the world is occupied by the “Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist” located in New York, USA. The construction of this temple began in 1892 and as of July 2014, its construction is still not completed. The length of the temple is 183.2 m, the height is 70.7 m. It occupies an area of 11,240 square meters.
The fourth place in the list of the largest churches in the world is occupied by the Seville Cathedral, located in the city of Seville, Spain. It is the largest Gothic cathedral in Europe. It was built between 1401–1519. on the site of the former mosque. It is 116 meters long, 76 meters wide and 105 meters high.
The honorable third place in the ranking of the largest cathedrals in the world is Milan Cathedral. This is a cathedral built between 1386-1805. on the central square of the city of Milan, Italy. The total length of the temple is 158 meters, the height of the spire is 106.5 meters, the total area is 11,700 square meters. The cathedral can accommodate up to 40,000 people inside.
The Basilica of the National Shrine of Nossa Señora Aparecida is a Roman Catholic basilica located in the city of Aparecida de Goiania, Brazil. The construction of the temple was started in 1955 by architect Benedito Calixto Neto. On July 4, 1980, the cathedral was solemnly consecrated by John Paul II. This building, 188 meters long and 183 meters wide, covers an area of 18,000 square meters and can simultaneously accommodate 45,000 believers. The height of the tower is 102 m. Every year, about 12 million pilgrims from all over Brazil visit the basilica.
St. Peter's Basilica is a Catholic cathedral located in Rome, Vatican City. It is the most famous monument of Renaissance architecture, as well as one of the tallest and largest churches in the world. Its construction began on April 18, 1506, and was completed on November 18, 1626. With a length of 220 m, a width of 150 m and a maximum height of 136.6 m, the cathedral can accommodate 60,000 believers inside. Another 400,000 people can sit on the square in front of the temple at the same time.
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The cathedral in Yamasukro deserves attention for many reasons. First of all, it is located on the African continent, in Côte d'Ivoire, which is surprising in itself, since there are only 20% of Christians here. Such buildings are more typical for Europe, with its majestic Gothic. Secondly, Notre Dame- de la Paix is one of the tallest churches in the world, and is the largest cathedral in the world.Another distinguishing feature of it is that it was built quite recently, judging by global standards - in 1989
The President of Côte d'Ivoire, Felix Bouani, chose Yamascuro as the site for the construction of the basilica and at the same time the new capital of the country in 1983. He wanted to perpetuate his name by building the largest church in the world. He placed his image in the form of a stained glass window next to the stained glass image of Christ and the apostles
The Basilica of Notre Dame de la Paix was built between 1985 and 1989 at a cost of $300 million USD. The church was built on the model of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, eventually surpassing it in area. The first stone was laid on August 10, 1985, and on September 10, 1990, the cathedral was consecrated by Pope John Paul II.
Like the temple in Rome, the basilica in Yamasukro is not formally a cathedral (although everyone calls it that). Next door is the Cathedral of St. Augustine, the main temple of the city, where the bishop of the diocese is located.
The basilica has caused great international controversy, which is not surprising. The luxurious building, lavishly lined with Italian marble, was built in the center of an impoverished African city, where the majority of the population lives below the poverty line. Due to the construction of the basilica, the public debt of Côte d'Ivoire has doubled. Despite this, many residents of Yamasukro are proud of their monument. This is the area surrounding the cathedral:
Despite the fact that Notre Dame de la Paix surpasses the Vatican temple both in area (30 thousand square meters) and in height (158 meters), the interior space can accommodate no more than 18,000 people, and the Cathedral of St. Petra can accommodate several times more
The only condition for his participation in the consecration of the temple, John Paul II put forward the construction of a hospital next to it. He was given this promise, and the pontiff personally laid the first stone in a field not far from the church, which lies there to this day. Unfortunately, the construction of the hospital was never started ...
Long before you reach Cologne, you will see two mighty spiers, each 157 meters high, dominating the city. These are the columns of the Cologne Cathedral, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List back in 1996. This is one of the most spectacular cathedrals in Europe and Germany, with the largest facade in the world
Built in honor of Saints Peter and Mary, Cologne Cathedral is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Cologne. Cologne Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in Germany (more details in the article on German Gothic), the most famous landmark of Cologne. Once the cathedral was the tallest building in the world, but even now it remains the record holder, with the world's largest church facade
The main wealth of the cathedral is the golden tomb with the remains of the Magi (the Chest of the Three Magi), decorated with thousands precious stones and pearls. This most valuable relic is located in the very center of the cathedral and annually attracts a huge number of pilgrims and tourists.
Let us turn to the history of this grandiose structure. The Cologne Cathedral was erected on the site where many Christian churches and churches have long been located. For many centuries these churches were subjected to destruction, burned down, and so on. In their place, new ones appeared, which in turn also disappeared. All this lasted until 1248, when the main and longest chapter in the history of the cathedral began. Cologne at that time was the most powerful city in Germany, therefore it was decided to build a cathedral here following the example of France with its Notre Dame de Paris and Strasbourg Cathedral, but in terms of its scale, the German cathedral was supposed to outshine all similar structures in the world
The first stone of Cologne Cathedral was laid on August 15, 1248 by Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden. The foundation of the building was laid rather quickly, but then the work came to a standstill, and only by 1560 was the foundation of the cathedral completed.
Only a few centuries later, in 1824, the towers and other important parts of the cathedral were completed, which were built strictly according to medieval drawings and plan. The completion of Germany's largest cathedral was celebrated as a national holiday in 1880, 632 years after the laying of the first stone. The celebration was attended by Emperor Wilhelm I
The cathedral suffered 14 air strikes during the Second World War, while not receiving serious damage - its reconstruction was completed in 1956. A spiral staircase was also built, along which you can climb to the observation deck, located at a height of 98 meters above the ground
In 1996, the cathedral was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in 2004 it was included in the "World Heritage in Danger" list, as the building needed serious renovation. In 2006, UNESCO nevertheless excluded the building from the list of "attractions in danger." The temporary restoration office still stands on the site near the building, so the chapter of history with the construction of the Cologne Cathedral is not yet closed
In addition to the tomb of the Magi, one of the most valuable relics of the cathedral is the famous Madonna of Milan - one of the most beautiful sculptural creations of the mature Gothic period. This image of the Mother of God, which has survived to this day, was created in 1290 and is considered one of the most beautiful sculptures in the world.
It is also worth paying attention to the Gero Cross - a two-meter oak cross, donated to the cathedral by Archbishop Gero. The cross stands out not only for its gigantic size, but also for the incredible realism of the image, with most of the cross preserved in its original form.
It is not surprising that there are many legends and rumors around the Cologne Cathedral. For example, they say that the devil himself was involved in the design of the cathedral, who provided the drawings for the architect Gerhard in exchange for his soul. In this regard, they say that the city of Cologne will stand as long as its cathedral is being built. During the war, the city of Cologne was destroyed to the ground, and the cathedral survived due to the unspoken collusion of pilots who used its spiers as a guide.
Nowadays, the cathedral attracts a huge number of tourists and, as you already understood, there is something to admire. I strongly recommend that you include this place in your list of attractions to visit if you are going to Germany
Rouen is called the City of a Hundred Spires because of its many beautiful buildings. Above these spiers rises the highest cathedral in France at 151 meters high - Rouen Cathedral, immortalized in the paintings of the famous Claude Monet
The first church on this site was built in 314, but a few centuries later it was destroyed by the Vikings. Due to political instability, they did not begin to restore it
In 911, Rouen became the capital of Normandy, and in 1020 construction began on a new Romanesque cathedral. Only the crypt has survived from it to our times. The rest of the cathedral was built in the Gothic style.
The oldest part of the Gothic cathedral is the northern tower of Saint-Romain, built in 1145. All parts of the building were repeatedly restored and rebuilt, restored after fires, hurricanes and bombings. The cathedral of Rouen was especially badly damaged during the Allied bombing in 1944 during the Second World War. The nave and chapels were badly damaged after being hit by seven bombs. In 1999, during a storm, the bell tower was badly damaged. 
Part of the windows are decorated with stained-glass windows of the 13th century, with a specific blue color. Richard's heart is buried on the grounds of the cathedral Lion Heart, the stone sarcophagus is decorated with a sculpture of Richard, and his name is carved on the side of the sarcophagus
The features of the early French Gothic style in the cathedral are displayed by the Saint-Romain tower, side portals and the nave. The main part of the cathedral was created in the High Gothic style: the nave, the transept, the choirs, the entire ground floor, and the lantern tower. In the late Gothic style, the last floor of the Saint Roman tower and the central portal were built.
Separately, it is worth talking about the Oil Tower of the Rouen Cathedral, which was built in the 16th century. In those days, oil was forbidden to be consumed due to fasting, and everyone who did not want to give up this product was required to make a cash donation of 6 denier to each priest in order to receive special permission.
From this magnificent cathedral, one can study not only the periods and styles of the Gothic, but also the history of France itself, as if from an open book. That is why every day hundreds of tourists visit this place as a symbol of Rouen.
Strasbourg Cathedral - a cathedral in the French city of Strasbourg, more than 200 years was the tallest building in the world.
Strasbourg Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, although unfinished, is one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals Europe. The cathedral is located on the site of a Roman temple, once built on a low hill.
Strasbourg Cathedral belongs to the largest cathedrals in the history of European architecture and the largest sandstone buildings in the world. Just like the city of Strasbourg, the cathedral combines German and French cultural influences.
Cathedral is catholic church bishop, but formerly was both Catholic and Protestant.
The first version of the church began to be erected in 1015 at the initiative of Bishop Werner of Habsburg, but a fire destroyed most of the original Romanesque building. By the time the cathedral was reconstructed after a fire (and it happened at the end of the 12th century) and was finished this time with reddish stones brought from neighboring mountains, the Gothic style in architecture reached Alsace and the future cathedral began to actively acquire Gothic features. The embodiment of the first project of the Alsace Cathedral was transferred to the hands of artisans who succeeded in creating Gothic masterpieces. Initially, the construction of the cathedral was financed by the local bishop, after his death, the cost of construction work was taken over by the bourgeoisie. But even the funds of those in power were not enough, as a result of which the townspeople decided to donate money for the construction of the cathedral.
The building was built of red Vosges sandstone. Construction began in 1015, and in subsequent centuries the cathedral was completed and changed its appearance. The eastern parts of the cathedral, including the choir and the southern portal, are made in the Romanesque style, while the longitudinal nave and the famous western facade, decorated with thousands of figures, are masterpieces of Gothic architecture.
The architects, as well as during the construction of the Cologne Cathedral, were guided by the French cathedral Gothic, which can be seen from the doubling of the western towers and, as a result, the wide western facade, as well as the longitudinal nave in the form of a basilica, in contrast to German churches with three naves of the same height.
In 1284, Erwin von Steinbach was elected the organizer of the entire complex procedure (Steinbach himself wanted to donate money for the construction of the temple, but since he had nothing for his soul, he gave his horse). It was Steinbach who invented and designed the majestic western pediment of the cathedral and the main entrance. At the time of Erwin's death, the construction of the cathedral was progressing, a huge stained-glass rose window and a high tower had already appeared. In 1399, Ulrich von Ensingen, builder of Ulm Cathedral, began building an octagonal base for the spire, which was completed by Johann Hultz of Cologne. This cathedral spire will soon become a recognizable symbol of Strasbourg.
At 142 m high, the North Tower, completed in 1439, was from 1625 to 1874 the tallest building in the world. The south tower was never built, giving the cathedral its well-known asymmetrical shape. The square on which the cathedral stands is one of the most beautiful city squares in Europe. It contains a number of half-timbered houses (up to 4-5 floors) in the style of Alemannic-South German architecture. Characteristic are the high roofs, in which there are several "inclined" floors (up to four). On the north side of the square stands the famous half-timbered house, the skillfully painted Kammerzell House, built in the 15th century.
Strasbourg Cathedral makes a significant contribution to the history of Gothic sculpture. The facade of the southern traverse is decorated with the famous relief of the Church and the Synagogue, created by the same craftsmen who created the column of Angels located inside the cathedral. While the previous façades were carefully drawn before construction, one of the façades was nevertheless created without such difficulties. Statues dating back to the 13th-15th centuries. located above the triple portal of the Gothic facade, they depict the Prophets, Magi, Vices and Virtues.
Inside special attention deserve the Gothic font, made by Dotzinger in 1453, the pulpit decorated with numerous sculptures by Hans Hammer, the image of the Mount of Olives in the north transept by Nicolas Raeder and the portal of St. Lawrence.
The cathedral also has many other treasures: stained-glass windows from the 12th-14th centuries, the altarpiece of Saint Pancras, tapestries from the 17th century and, finally, one of the most famous sights of the cathedral, the astronomical clock, installed in the original 17th-century case, decorated by Tobias Stimmer and using a mechanism developed by Schwilge. Before them there were clocks built in 1353 and 1574, the last of which worked until 1789 and already had astronomical functions. In 1832, a unique mechanism was constructed showing the orbits of the earth, the moon and the then known planets (from Mercury to Saturn). A feature of the watch is a mechanism that completes one full rotation on New Year's Eve and calculates the reference point for those holidays whose dates change from year to year. But the slowest rotating part of the clock shows the precession of the earth's axis - one revolution takes 25,800 years. To the left of the clock are frescoes from the 15th century.
The organ appeared in the cathedral in 1260. In addition to the organ in the Strasbourg Cathedral, there were two more instruments created and modified, respectively, in 1291 and 1327. The oldest surviving section of the organ dates from 1385. At the same time, a bird's nest appeared in the cathedral; the nest was made of fur and feathers and hangs from the wall from a statue of Samson from a huge oak branch. On the right is a movable statue of a pretzel dealer, which, with the movements of his hand and head, seemed to emphasize the speech of the clergyman, who was hiding in the choirs, during the celebration of Trinity Day. On the left side, you can also see moving statues: the hand of the royal herald and the lion's mouth move here.
The famous cathedral tower was almost completely destroyed by atheists during the French Revolution, but one of the local blacksmiths came up with a wonderful scheme for creating a metal cap that protected the tower.
Bombs in 1870 and 1944 caused damage to the cathedral, but after reconstruction and replacement of missing statues, the cathedral was restored to its original appearance.
Every summer, in the evenings in front of the Strasbourg Cathedral, a performance is organized: classical music is broadcast, and the cathedral itself is illuminated in different colors to match the music.
