The largest Catholic cathedrals. The largest Orthodox churches

Religious communities of the world staged a tacit competition, which of them will be able to build the most beautiful and largest temple. Later, these churches turned into architectural masterpieces, attracting crowds of tourists. The most majestic temples were created by great architects of different eras, and their construction sometimes dragged on for centuries. This review helps to find out which is the largest church in the world?

1. Ulm Cathedral, Germany (161.5 m)

The laying of this grandiose temple took place in 1377. The construction, which was led by Ulrich von Enzingen, began in 1392, and already in 1405 it was basically completed, after which the church was consecrated and regular services began to be held there. Although at that moment the construction had to be interrupted due to the miscalculations of the architect - the side aisles could not withstand the weight of the vaults. Initially, it served as a Catholic church, but when the wave of the Reformation swept across Europe, the church came under the control of the Lutherans.
Already under the Lutherans in 1530-1543, construction was finally continued, and then its spire rose 100 meters. After that, due to lack of funds, construction was interrupted for centuries. Finally, the third stage of construction took place in 1817-1890, when the church was finally completed. In 1944, as a result of the bombing, most of the historical center of Ulm was destroyed, but the church miraculously survived.
By the way, this is a church, not a cathedral, because the status of a cathedral is awarded to a temple in which there is an episcopal residence. But the high priest of Ulm lives in Stuttgart, which has been customary since medieval times. And they call this church a "cathedral" solely because of its colossal size, which makes a strong impression.

2. Notre Dame de la Paix, Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast (158 m)

This basilica is remarkable from several sides at once. It is located on the Black Continent, and in fact there only a fifth of the population is Christian. We are used to seeing such buildings in old Europe, which has a lot of majestic Gothic. But in 1983, President Felix Bouani decided to move the country's capital to the city of Yamoussoukro and build this majestic basilica there. His goal was to build the largest church in the world and thereby perpetuate his name. Therefore, on its stained-glass windows, next to Christ and the apostles, the face of Buani is also visible.
The construction of the basilica lasted from 1985 to 1989, and it cost the treasury 300 million dollars. But although North Dame de la Paix surpasses the famous St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican in area and height, its interior space turned out to be much more modest - it can accommodate no more than 18 thousand believers, while in the main Catholic church this number is much higher. The then pontiff John Paul II put forward one condition for his participation in the consecration ceremony of the temple - that a hospital be built next to it. He was promised this, after which he laid the symbolic first stone not far from the place where the church now stands. The stone still lies there, but the hospital did not exist, and still does not exist.

Many holy places are concentrated on the territory of Moscow and the Moscow region. There are legends about many of them, these are the very holy places that are worth visiting...

3. Cologne Cathedral, Germany (157.4 m)

The official name is the Cathedral of St. Peter and the Holy Virgin Mary, although for most it is known simply as Cologne Cathedral. It serves as a global reference for High Gothic architecture. At the time of construction, it became the tallest building in the world and remained so for another 4 years. Its dominants are two majestic towers. The area of the cathedral occupies approximately 7914 square meters. m. The Cathedral is the main temple of the Cologne Archdiocese, and its construction was divided into two historical periods: the first stage fell on the years 1248-1437, and the second - 1842-1880.
The exterior and interiors of the temple have a typical Gothic style. Particular attention is drawn to the largest choirs in Germany, where 104 singers can sing. There are also two armchairs in the temple, always free during worship: one of them is intended for the Pope, and the other for the Emperor. Here is also the famous relic - the cancer of the three kings (Magi) - a golden sarcophagus, which contains the ashes of the same three Magi who, judging by the Bible, brought gifts to the newborn Christ in Bethlehem. For Christians, this is an incredibly attractive object for pilgrimage; every year millions of believers come to pray to them in the Cologne Cathedral.

4. Rouen Cathedral, France (151 m)

Notre Dame Cathedral is located in the ancient French city, it has become a monument of the country's national heritage. Until the completion of the Cologne Cathedral in 1880, it was Rouen Cathedral that was the tallest building in the world. It is clear that he still holds the title of the highest temple in France and is at the same time a masterpiece of the Gothic style of architecture. Its oldest part is the northern tower of Saint-Romain, which was built in 1145. In 1944, it was almost completely burned out as a result of the bombing, only stone walls remained.
The South Oil Tower is much younger (1485). The current nave of the church appeared in 1200, because the previous Romanesque nave collapsed as a result of a fire. Among the original architecture, only the northern portal of John the Theologian has survived, which depicts scenes from the life of John the Baptist and John the Theologian. After 1769, the portal was repeatedly restored. And two more portals in the 16th century were badly damaged. The archbishop's palace, which is part of the complex with the cathedral, is as old as the Gothic temple itself.

5. St. Nicholas Cathedral, Hamburg, Germany (147.3 m)

The neo-gothic St. Nicholas Church has become one of the five Lutheran churches in Hamburg and the second tallest building in this city after the memorial to the victims of the arbitrariness of the Nazi regime and the last world war. A wooden church was built here in the 11th century, and in 1335 the construction of a stone building began. Centuries-old construction was completed only in 1874 under the leadership of the Englishman George Scott. 2 more years after the completion of construction, the church was the tallest building in the world.
In 1943, massive bombardments hit the port of Hamburg, as a result of which only the tower remained from the temple. The church continued to crumble after the war (1951). Only in 1990, its restoration began, managed by the "Salvation of the Church of St. Nicholas" Foundation. Now instead of the church there are ruins, called a memorial to the victims of World War II. In 2005, an elevator was built there, in which visitors can go up to the top of the church, where a platform is installed under the spire, from which there is an excellent view of Hamburg.

6. Strasbourg Cathedral, France (142 m)

The Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, now the French city of Strasbourg, has been the tallest building in the world for over two centuries. It is still considered unfinished, but this does not prevent it from being one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Europe. It stands on a low hill where the ancient Roman temple used to be. During the construction, red Vosges sandstone was used. The construction of the cathedral began in 1015, and over the following centuries it was repeatedly transformed and completed. The east wing of the building, the choir stalls and the south portal are built in the Romanesque style, while the nave and the famous west facade, which is decorated with thousands of sculptures, are recognized as Gothic masterpieces. Due to the unfinished south tower, the cathedral looks asymmetrical.

Italy is a classic example of the best seaside holidays. This country has many excellent and diverse resorts. Its coastline is...

7. Basilica of the Blessed Virgin of Lichen, Lichen Stary, Poland (141.5 m)

This basilica has become a spiritual symbol of the new revival of Poland and the largest church in this country. Contrary to tradition, this church was built in just 10 years (1994-2004) in the Polish village of Likhen-Stary, and an extensive architectural and park complex spread around it. The place for construction is not accidental - according to legend, in the 19th century, it was here that the Mother of God appeared to two Poles, after which, in 1852, a miraculous icon appeared in the local parish church. Now from afar you can see the impressive dome of the basilica covered with gold (height 45 m, diameter 25 m). It is supported by a two-level reinforced concrete colonnade supported by 4 reinforced concrete pillars. 7,000 sitting or 10,000 standing parishioners can pray in the temple, and there is enough space for 250,000 people in the square in front of the basilica.

8. St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna, Austria (136.4 m)

The luxurious Viennese temple - St. Stephen's Cathedral is the residence of the cardinal-archbishop, and its 137-meter tower has become one of the symbols of the Austrian capital. The very first temple on this site arose in 1137-1147, and it increased to its current size during the 13th-15th centuries, until it acquired its modern look in 1511.
The bombings of World War II, fortunately, did not affect him, as did the offensive of the Red Army. It was later plundered and set on fire by marauders. A group of volunteers restored the base of the cathedral in 1948, but the restoration work here has not stopped to this day. Catacombs were dug under the building, in which the dead were buried in the era of Charles VI, who forbade the burial of the dead in the old cemeteries located within the city. To this day, the highest representatives of the clergy are buried in the bishop's crypt inside the cathedral, the last time this happened in 2014.

A person cannot be indifferent to snakes - watching them from a safe place causes delight, and close contact often turns around ...

9. New Cathedral, Linz, Austria (134.8 m)

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary or simply the New Cathedral is a Catholic church located in Linz, Austria. In Austria, it has no equal in capacity - 20,000 people. Its Gothic-style construction began in 1855 under the patronage of Bishop Franz Josef Rudiger. True, the first stone was laid only in 1862. After construction was completed in 1924, the church was consecrated by Bishop Johannes Maria Gfollner. It is noteworthy that this cathedral has 5 chapels, each of which is decorated with marble altars and beautiful marble statues. Some of the stained glass windows were damaged during the last war, especially the southern portal of the cathedral. They were never restored in their original form, and stained-glass windows on modern themes appeared instead.

10. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican (132.5 m)

This main Catholic temple of the world is the pearl of all Rome. The basilica was named so because, according to legend, under it is the tomb of the Apostle Peter. Inside this grandiose temple, many large European temples could fit entirely. The height of the dome of the basilica, crowned with a cross, is 136 meters. No building should be built above it in Rome. The construction of the cathedral took half a century, and it was completed in 1607. It was created by different generations of the greatest masters of the Renaissance: Raphael, Bramante, Michelangelo, Bernini. The cathedral can accommodate up to 60,000 people and another 400,000 will fit in St. Peter's Square.

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: it 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 that can accommodate 15 thousand 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 the Soviet power. 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.

Read this and other posts in our group in

It is not for nothing that Orthodox Russia, referred to in historical sources, can boast of hundreds of ancient temples and monasteries, whose artistic value is enormous. In every small village, in every town, there is certainly a church. The history of many of them dates back several centuries, so it is not easy, and unreasonable, to judge which is more important.

We present to your attention a dozen temples known for their artistic, architectural and historical value.

Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir

This UNESCO heritage-listed white-stone cathedral is top of our list for a reason. Before the rise of Moscow, it was he who was the main temple of Russia, and it was built and painted even before the Tatar-Mongol yoke.

Now this temple also houses a museum, and you can visit it at any time when church services are not going on.

Kazan Cathedral

The famous temple of Nevsky Prospekt, built at the beginning of the 19th century, is known to every tourist.

This Empire-style building does not look like a typical Orthodox church, but services are held in it. The cathedral, made in the image of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, served as the Museum of Religion and Atheism in the Soviet years and was significantly damaged, but by 2000 it was completely restored and re-consecrated.

Saint Isaac's Cathedral

There are still legends about the construction of the cathedral in the middle of the 16th century, because if the customer is known, then three people at once claim the role of the performer. The well-known version of the blinded master is not documented, but is very common among the guides.

Having become a museum in the USSR, the temple was in distress for a long time, but in 1946 it was completely restored. Recently, services have begun to be held here again, but you can also visit it as a museum.

Church of the Intercession on the Nerl

Founded in 1165, the modest temple over the river is widely known for its exquisite beauty, simplicity and elegance of forms. Unlike the magnificent metropolitan temples, it is small, not covered with carvings and patterns, but is appreciated by historians and artists.

The reflection of the temple in the water of a quiet river has been depicted and photographed thousands of times and never ceases to attract tourists who are not too lazy to walk a couple of kilometers from the nearest village to admire the temple at sunset and dawn.

Cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Savior

Rebuilt in 1997, the temple has become the most controversial religious project in Russia. On the one hand, this is just a restored cathedral of the 19th century, on the walls of which the names of soldiers and officers who died in battles with the Napoleonic army were written. On the other hand, it is a fashionable place where Russian politicians and businessmen "take to appear".

By the way, many parishioners of the temple note that putting less than 500 rubles in the urn for donations is considered bad form here.

Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord on about. Kizhi

The wooden octagonal church on the island of Kizhi was built at the beginning of the 18th century and is now in a deplorable state. Architects insist on its complete reconstruction, but can not decide how to do it.

In the meantime, while they argue, tourists who go to the island to admire the 22-domed church risk their health by approaching the emergency building.

Ensemble of the former Ferapontov Monastery

Founded at the end of the 14th century by St. Ferapont, the monastery stands on a hill between two lakes in the Vologda region. It is included in the list of UNESCO cultural heritage and especially valuable historical sites of Russia. For several centuries it was the largest monastery in this region, but with the advent of Soviet power, it did not escape the fate of the museum.

Litigation about the fate of the former monastery is still going on between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ministry of Culture.

St. George's Cathedral in Yuryev-Polsky

The massive, squat white-stone cathedral was built in 1230 by order of Prince Svyatoslav.

It was distinguished by architecture unusual for that period and numerous carvings on the walls of the temple. The frescoes that decorated it from the inside were repeatedly erased from time to time and restored by local masters, so now they differ from the original ones, although the plots have been preserved.

Church of the Savior on Nereditsa

Not far from Veliky Novgorod, on the banks of the river, stands a 12th-century church built by order of Prince Yaroslav in memory of his two dead sons. Erected in less than a year, it is characterized by a massive structure and unique frescoes that cover all the walls from floor to ceiling.

The church was badly damaged by the Nazis during the Second World War and was completely restored only in 2004. Now it is open as a museum object, but services are held there on holidays.

Each of these buildings is beautiful in its own way, and worth a visit even if you are not a religious person.

I read that the Patriarch of Constantinople is the main one among the Orthodox. How so? He has almost no flock, because mostly Muslims live in Istanbul. In general, how is everything arranged in our church? Who is more important than whom?

S. Petrov, Kazan

In total, there are 15 autocephalous (independent.-Ed.) Orthodox churches.

Constantinople

Its status as Orthodox Church No. 1 was determined in 1054, when the Patriarch of Constantinople trampled on bread prepared according to Western custom. This was the reason for the split of the Christian Church into Orthodox and Catholic. The throne of Constantinople was the first Orthodox, and its special significance is not disputed. Although the flock of the current Patriarch of Constantinople, who bears the proud title of Patriarch of New Rome and Ecumenical, is not numerous.

Alexandria

According to church tradition, the Alexandrian church was founded by the holy apostle Mark. The second of the four oldest Orthodox patriarchates. The canonical territory is Africa. In the III century. it was in it that monasticism first appeared.

Antioch

Third in seniority, founded, according to legend, by Peter and Paul around 37 AD. Jurisdiction: Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, also Arab parishes in Europe, North and South America, Australia.

Jerusalem

The oldest church, which occupies the 4th place in the autocephalous churches. It has the name of the mother of all churches, because it was on its territory that all the most important events described in the New Testament took place. Its first bishop was the Apostle James, the brother of the Lord.

Russian

Not being the oldest, upon establishment, it immediately received an honorable fifth place among churches. The largest and most influential autocephalous Orthodox Church.

Georgian

One of the oldest churches in the world. According to legend, Georgia is the apostolic lot of the Mother of God.

Serbian

The first mass baptism of Serbs took place under the Byzantine emperor Heraclius (610-641).

Romanian

It has jurisdiction in the territory of Romania. It has state status: the salaries of the clergy are paid from the state treasury.

Bulgarian

In Bulgaria, Christianity began to spread already in the 1st century. In 865, under St. Prince Boris, the general baptism of the Bulgarian people takes place.

Cypriot

10th place among autocephalous local churches.
One of the oldest local churches in the East. Founded by the Apostle Barnabas in 47 AD.
In the 7th century fell under the Arab yoke, from which it was completely freed only in 965.

Helladic (Greek)

Historically, the Orthodox population of present-day Greece was within the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople. Autocephaly was proclaimed in 1833. The king was named head of the church. Has state status.

Albanian

The main part of the flock lives in the southern regions of Albania (Islam predominates in the center and north). Founded in the X century. as part of Constantinople, but then in 1937 gained independence.

Polish

In its modern form, it was established in 1948. Before that, for a long time, 80% of the believers of the church were Ukrainians, Belarusians and Rusyns.

Czech lands and Slovakia

Founded on the territory of the Great Moravian Principality in 863 by the labors of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius. 14th place among churches.

American

It is not recognized by Constantinople, as well as a number of other churches. The emergence dates back to the creation in 1794 by the monks of the Valaam Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery of the first Orthodox mission in America. The American Orthodox consider the Reverend Herman of Alaska to be their apostle.

October 29, 2013

Church of St. Sava of Serbia in Belgrade

Russia, Serbia, Georgia - Orthodoxy dominates in these states. This is how it happened historically. Therefore, it is not surprising that it was in these countries that the most magnificent cathedrals of this branch of Christianity were erected.

Many will think that the largest Orthodox churches are in Russia. And they will be wrong. The largest is the Church of St. Sava of Serbia, which is located in the capital of Serbia - Belgrade. The cathedral rises on the Vryačar hill. If measured from east to west, then the length of the structure is 91 meters, from north to south - 81 meters. The height of the temple is 70 meters, which is less than that of the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior (103 meters). However, the Russian cathedral extends only 60 meters in length on all sides. Thus, it is the Serbian temple that is rightfully considered the largest in the world.

The central dome of the Belgrade structure weighs about 4,000 tons. The dome painting is also striking in its scale - only the eyes on the face of Christ are more than a meter long. The Church of St. Sava of Serbia can be seen from anywhere in Belgrade, because its height above sea level is 134 meters.

The already mentioned Cathedral of Christ the Savior is the highest in the world. It is located near the Moscow Kremlin. The building that exists today was restored on the model of the temple of the same name, built in the 19th century.

Saint Isaac's Cathedral

St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg is slightly inferior to him. Its height is 1.5 meters. At the same time, it is the largest Orthodox church in the city. In addition, the object, located on St. Isaac's Square, has been given the status of a museum. This cathedral is named after the Monk Isaac of Dalmatia, a saint who was especially revered by Peter I.

Quite large Orthodox churches exist in Georgia as well. So, the main cathedral of the Orthodox Church of this country is the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Tbilisi. The structure, which has 13 thrones, has a height of 98 meters. The total area of the facility exceeds 5 thousand square meters.

In the Far East of Russia, in Khabarovsk, there is the Transfiguration Cathedral. It is the largest in the region. The height of the temple is 96 meters. Its construction was completed in the early 2000s. The building appeared on Glory Square and was consecrated in 2004.

Smolny Cathedral

One of the sights of Russia is the Smolny Cathedral, located on the embankment of the same name in St. Petersburg. The temple was built in 1835. The height of the modern building is 3.7 meters.

There are also large Orthodox churches in Nizhny Novgorod and Voronezh. We are talking about the Alexander Nevsky New Fair Cathedral (87 meters high) and the Voronezh Annunciation Cathedral (85 meters), respectively.

It is also worth noting the Timisoara Cathedral, which is located in Romania. The construction of the building with a height of 3.7 meters was carried out in 1936-1940. The decoration of the temple ended in 1956.

All of these temples are not only large, but also surprisingly beautiful structures. The best architects of different centuries, recognized both at home and all over the world, worked on them.