Unique temples of the world. The oldest churches in Russia and around the world
Beautiful temples have more than just religious significance. They are distinguished by their amazing beauty and originality, and are true masterpieces of architecture. These structures surprise others with their majestic and divine appearance. Their diversity and interesting design are truly delightful. This list includes only the most beautiful temples in the world, which deserve the attention of every connoisseur of beautiful architecture.
1. Sagrada Familia Cathedral
Sagrada Familia can deservedly bear the title of the most beautiful temple in the world. This is an amazing building in the heart of Barcelona. The author of such a beautiful creation is a famous architect named Antonio Gaudi. Bizarre shapes and the architectural reliefs of the structure evoke sincere delight among local residents and tourists. Inside the cathedral you can see a lot of decor in the form of paintings, stucco moldings and mosaics. Beautiful sculptures and towers harmoniously complement the building. Free excursions are regularly held here for guests who wish to personally familiarize themselves with all the features of this building. While inside the Sagrada Familia, you can feel the whole atmosphere of Biblical times.
2. Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood- one of the most beautiful churches of Orthodoxy, located in the city of St. Petersburg. The building is decorated in Russian style using Italian marble and other semi-precious stones. The decor is made in a theatrical style, which is why the church looks like a carved box of gems. Many additional details and multi-colored finishing materials give the temple a special appeal, and the sparkling mosaics and tiles of different colors add originality and uniqueness. The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood can confidently be called an incomparable example of mosaic architecture, because it is this direction of art that is used in the process of decorating the facades, which gives the temple a festive appearance. Historians rightly call it a monument of world significance.
3. Santa Maria del Fiore
Continues the list of the most beautiful temples in the world Santa Maria del Fiore. This cathedral is a magnificent landmark in Florence. The architecture of the unique building harmoniously combines natural marble of three shades, which makes it unique. The Gothic style in which the building was erected gives the impression of antiquity and nobility. The interior design is quite strict. The façade is decorated with a statue Mother of God with a baby in her arms and a delicate lily flower. Special attention attracted by antique clocks whose hands move in the opposite direction.
4. Crystal Mosque
Among the ten most beautiful temples in the world Crystal Mosque in Malaysia. It consists of different minarets in the form of neat structures covered with mirror glass. Thanks to this, during the daytime the mosque overflows into sun rays, and at night it shines with the lights of a specially created illumination. This amount of glass perfectly transmits light and creates a favorable atmosphere for prayer. The Crystal Mosque is deservedly called one of the most unusual in the whole world. In addition, it has modern equipment, such as the Internet and Wi-Fi, which is greatly appreciated not only by local residents, but also by tourists.
5. Notre Dame de Paris
In the heart of France there is a well-known beautiful catholic church called Notre Dame de Paris. During its construction, Romanesque and Gothic styles were used, harmoniously filling the environment with grace and monumentality. The interior design of the room is so magnificent that royal weddings, luxurious funeral ceremonies, as well as imperial coronations were often held here in the past. It was in this cathedral throughout many years The Crown of Thorns of Jesus Christ, which is a great relic of Christians, is kept. On the territory of this temple it can accommodate 9 thousand parishioners at the same time.
6. Blue Mosque
Blue Mosque– one of the most beautiful Muslim temples in the world. The mosque is located in Istanbul and consists of six minarets. It got its name thanks to its beautiful decoration blue color. Currently, the building surprises with its scale, as well as its original architecture. Here you can see a large central dome, complemented by voluminous columns and cascades. The interior is made in light colors, among which white, blue and blue colors dominate. The walls of the temple are decorated with ceramic tiles self made, which go well with lamps and carpets. Each dome here is painted with quotes taken from the Koran. Availability large quantity windows make the mosque bright and cozy.
7. St. Basil's Cathedral
St. Basil's Cathedral- the most famous and beautiful temple Russia, which is also known as the Intercession Cathedral. It is rightfully considered a symbol of Moscow. The cathedral was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List due to its unique architecture. It represents eight different churches with beautiful onion-shaped domes. There is even a legend that Ivan the Terrible after the completion of construction, he deprived the masters of their vision so that they would not have the opportunity to create another such masterpiece.
8. Golden Temple in Amritsar
This building, considered the main shrine of India, could not fail to be included in the top 10 most beautiful temples. Ancient Golden Temple was erected in the “lake of immortality”, which Ram Das himself chose. One day he had a vision in which he saw a temple shimmering with lights, after which he decided to make it a reality. People come here to cleanse themselves of sins and get closer to God. The appearance of the beautiful temple resembles a white and golden lotus flower as upper part The building is covered with gold, and the lower one is covered with marble.
9. Akshardham Temple
An incredibly beautiful temple called Akshardham is a large-scale complex that is not only religious in nature, but also scientific and cultural. Here is the temple itself, a large garden, and also a research center. The main decoration of Akshardham is the gilded statue of God Shvaminarayan, whose height is two meters. In the garden you can see a beautiful waterfall, lake and attractions, which gives the atmosphere a certain modernity and comfort. The research center includes a library, a historical archive and a study area. In addition, there are several interesting exhibitions on Indian themes on its territory. Almost two million tourists come here every year to see all the features of this attraction.
10. Milan Cathedral
Whatever country you go to, you will probably want to visit the main attractions and architectural monuments. Today we will talk about the oldest churches in the world - buildings whose atmosphere and setting are always unique and have a special character.
Megiddo Church (Israel)
This ancient church is one of the most ancient church buildings that archaeologists have ever discovered. It is located in the city of Tel Megiddo (Israel), after which it received its name. The remains of this unusual church were discovered relatively recently - in 2005. The archaeologist who was lucky enough to discover this unique find was Yotam Tepper. After a detailed study of the remains found on the territory of the former Megiddo prison, scientists were able to find out that their age dates back to the 3rd century AD. It was during this time that Christians were persecuted and attacked by the Roman Empire. The remains are quite well preserved - a large-scale mosaic was discovered in the church building, the area of which amounted to more than 54 square meters. The mosaic contained an inscription in Greek that said it was dedicated to Jesus Christ. In addition to the inscription, on the mosaic you can see drawings of fish made from geometric shapes. This is another proof of the preaching of the Christian religion in the church.
Dura-Europos Church (Syria)
The founding of the Dura-Europos church, according to scientists and archaeologists, dates back to 235 AD. This unique structure is located in the city of Dura-Europos (Syria), where its name comes from. Like the church itself, its location has a rich history. This ancient city, surrounded by a fortified wall, was discovered by American and French archaeologists during excavations in Syria in the 1920s. Along with the city, scientists were able to discover a church, which today is a real landmark of this place.
Basilica of Saint-Pierre Aux-Nonnet (France)
Located in the city of Metz (France), the Basilica of Saint-Pierre Aux-Nonnet occupies the building of one of the oldest churches in Europe, and indeed on the entire planet. The founding of this church dates back to 380 AD. Initially, the main purpose of the building was to be used as a Roman sanatorium complex, but after a few centuries, in the 7th century, the building was converted into a church. During the work repair work, a nave was erected, but already in the 16th century the church completely ceased to be used for religious purposes. At first the building served as an ordinary warehouse, and only in the 1970s it was renovated again and today is a popular venue for exhibitions and concerts, as well as a real landmark of the city.
Monastery of St. Anthony (Egypt)
The Monastery of St. Anthony is located in one of the oases of the Eastern Desert (Egypt). More precise coordinates of its location are 334 kilometers southeast of the city of Cairo. It is considered a Coptic Orthodox monastery, which, moreover, is one of the most ancient in the world. Today, this monastery is very popular among pilgrims, hundreds of whom visit it daily. This popularity is explained not only by the age of the building, but also by the significant influence of the monastery on the formation of monasticism in this region.
Danilov Monastery (Russia)
Despite the fact that the building of the Danilov Monastery is not as old as the above-mentioned buildings, it is one of the most ancient and beautiful in Russia. The history of this monastery, located in Moscow, begins in the 13th century - at the time of its foundation by Danila Alexandrovich, the son of the famous commander Alexander Nevsky. It was in honor of the founder that the church received the name St. Daniel's Monastery. Throughout its history, the church has been attacked and attacked more than once, as a result of which it came into the possession of different people. Today, it is the residence of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. If you are planning to visit the sights of Moscow, be sure to include this ancient monastery on your list.
Witnesses of history, guardians of culture, works of art - ancient churches of Russia. They survived the Mongol-Tatar yoke, wars and years of persecution. About the most ancient and unusual ones - in the material “My Planet”.
Nizhny Arkhyz: temples of medieval Alanya
We are already talking about the ancient temple Russian state— St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod, built in the middle of the 11th century. But on the territory of modern Russia there are religious buildings erected even earlier, before the baptism of Rus', for example, the churches of Nizhny Arkhyz in Karachay-Cherkessia. It is believed that here was the capital of medieval Alanya, whose inhabitants converted to Christianity back in 912.
Around the same time, the largest and most majestic Northern Church was built, dedicated to Nicholas The Wonderworker, the cathedral church of the Alan diocese. The building is made of large sandstone slabs held together with durable lime mortar. Services were held in it and local residents were baptized: in the corner they found a cubic tank made of stone slabs - the only baptismal center in the North Caucasus.
Later, a small Southern (Ilyinskaya) church appeared nearby, which still operates to this day, and next to it you can see the Arkhyz face - a rock image of Christ.
Kerch: the oldest functioning church
In the center of Kerch stands a temple with a long and difficult history - the Church of John the Baptist in the Byzantine style. It is not known exactly when the church was built: historians date it back to the 9th, 8th and even 6th centuries. Since then, the foundation, columns and paved courtyard where the stone slab with the imprint of the foot of St. Andrew the First-Called. Later, the church was rebuilt by Russian princes; under the Polovtsians, it stood in disrepair, and during Turkish rule it was a mosque. During Soviet times, the Church of John the Baptist was closed; during the war, it was badly damaged by fire, but then it was restored and is now considered the oldest functioning Orthodox church in Russia.
The temple was helped to get through centuries and trials design features: The cross-domed building is reinforced with columns, and the masonry of the walls alternates rows of white stone and red brick - this “layer cake” ensures the stability of the structure.
Vladimir: the cathedral as a symbol of unity
Construction of the white-stone Assumption Cathedral began in the 12th century, under Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. According to the ruler’s plan, the cathedral was to become the main temple of the strongest principality - Vladimir-Suzdal Rus', a symbol of the unity of the Russian lands. Therefore, the work was carried out on a grand scale, and the grandiose structure surpassed the St. Sophia Cathedrals of Kyiv and Novgorod in height. The church is also not inferior to them in luxury and splendor: the walls are painted with frescoes, the floor is covered with colored mosaics and gilded slabs, gold and silver chandeliers shine under the arches.
The cathedral burned and was reborn from the ashes more than once. The worst fire happened in 1238, when Batu Khan invaded Vladimir. The townspeople who had locked themselves in the temple died in the smoke, all the church relics were looted, the paintings were damaged by fire, but the temple survived and was restored more than a hundred years later. It was then, at the beginning of the 15th century, The cathedral was painted by Andrei Rublev, and this is one of the few churches where you can see frescoes by the famous icon painter.
During the filming of Andrei Tarkovsky's film about Rublev in 1966, the fire recurred - the rafters of the church caught fire from smoke bombs, but they were quickly extinguished. More recently, another film was filmed in the temple, the plot of which is related to the Rublev frescoes - “Fairy” by Anna Melikyan.
Kostomarovo: underground church
In the Don steppes Voronezh region a lot cave temples, and the largest and most ancient is the Spassky Cathedral of the monastery of the same name near the village of Kostomarovo. The church is carved into fancy chalk pillars - “divas”, the origin of which still remains a mystery.
The monks began building the temple in the 12th century; work continued intermittently for several centuries. The result was a huge underground cathedral that could accommodate 2,000 people. The outside is decorated with colorful domes and mosaic icons, the bell tower is set between two “divas,” and the inside walls are covered with frescoes carved directly into the chalk rock. Nearby, in the slope of a chalk hill, the cells of hermit monks are hollowed out - narrow and cramped rooms with walls green from dampness. And the most severe place of the monastery is the Cave of Repentance: a long dark corridor leads to a small cell intended for confession. Before the revolution, the most desperate sinners were sent here, but now pilgrims from all over Russia go to the Cave of Repentance.
Eski-Kermen: temple in a rock
The most unusual structure of the Crimean cave city of Eski-Kermen is a miniature church carved into a round limestone block in the 12th century. The temple occupies This is 5.5 m long and 3.5 m wide. Two entrances and a small window were carved into a huge boulder, and almost half internal space occupies the altar. On the northern wall there is a single fresco with a rare subject, which gave the name to the temple. It depicts three horsemen in flowing cloaks: in the center is St. George the Victorious, slaying a dragon with a spear, on the right and left are horsemen with spears, and behind one of them sits a child. Perhaps these are images of local heroes buried here - two graves were carved into the floor of the church, and the city necropolis was located around it. According to another version, the fresco depicts Saint George in three faces: protector, dragon slayer and savior.
Kizhi: the oldest wooden church
The oldest wooden temple that has come down to us is the Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus in Karelia. According to legend, it was cut down in the 14th century, during the life of the founder of the Murom monastery, the Greek monk Lazarus.
This is the simplest and oldest type of wooden church - the cage church. It resembles an ordinary hut, has no external decorations and consists of three log cabins connected together. The dimensions are also modest: the total length of the church is about 9 m, the width is 3.6 m. The antiquity of the temple is indicated by archaic elements, for example, doors without hinges and glass windows - narrow slits that were covered (covered) from the inside with a board. After the death of Lazarus, the church became an object of worship and pilgrimage; it was considered a “healer of illnesses.”
In the 19th century, a wooden protective case was built over the temple, and in 1959 it was transported to the island of Kizhi, restored and installed at the foot of the famous Transfiguration Cathedral.
Veliky Novgorod: a masterpiece of medieval architecture
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Frescoes by Theophanes the Greek |
Ilyin Street in Veliky Novgorod leads to a snow-white church of rare beauty - the Church of the Transfiguration, or Savior on Ilyin. It is not as majestic and ancient as Sophia of Novgorod, but it is also included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list and is no less famous: This is the only church in the world where the frescoes of Theophanes the Greek have been preserved.
The Byzantine icon painter painted the temple at the end of the 14th century; frescoes of the dome, drum and Trinity chapel have survived to this day - bright, expressive images of Christ, angels and Old Testament heroes. The outside of the temple is no less expressive than the inside: strict proportions, simplicity of lines, lace facade decoration. The church was built at the expense of the residents of Ilinaya Street during the heyday of the Novgorod Republic and became one of the most perfect examples of architecture of that time.
Alexandrov: the first stone tented temple
For a long time, the Ascension Church in Kolomenskoye was considered the oldest stone tented church. But in the 90s of the 20th century, a version appeared that the more modest and less famous Church of the Intercession in Alexandrov was built about 20 years earlier, in the 1510s. The house temple of the Russian tsars was erected by the Italian architect Aleviz Novy, combining Renaissance techniques and local traditions: the stone building is reminiscent of ancient Russian wooden tent churches. But the tent painted with a plot is the only one in Russia. on his inner surface depicts biblical kings, prophets and Russian princes, canonized.
Ivan the Terrible prayed in this home church, Adjacent to the temple were the royal chambers, erected at the same time. Giant cellars were dug under the chambers - according to legend, untold riches are stored there, for example, the mysteriously disappeared library of Ivan the Terrible. You can learn about the secrets of the ancient church on a tour - the temple is part of the Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda museum-reserve and is open to the public.
Religious buildings have existed for thousands of years and are proof of the existence of other civilizations and cultures. These buildings still fascinate today with their beauty and grandeur. In this review we will talk about the 10 most ancient temples on our planet.
1. Knossos Palace
Greece
Built southeast of Heraklion, Knossos was inhabited for several thousand years, beginning in the seventh millennium BC. It was abandoned after destruction in 1375 BC. The Great Palace of Knossos was built between 1700 and 1400 BC, replacing the first palace built around 1900 BC. The function of this site is not entirely known, although it is stated whether it was used as an administrative center or a religious center (or perhaps both).
According to Greek mythology, the palace was designed by the architect Daedalus on the orders of King Minos, who then imprisoned the famous architect so that he would not reveal the plan of the palace to anyone. The palace was also associated with the mythological Labyrinth, which was the abode of the Minotaur. The palace was abandoned around the end of the Bronze Age (1380-1100 BC) due to numerous disasters, including earthquakes and fire. It is also one of the oldest buildings in the world.
2. Gobekli Tepe
Türkiye
Göbekli Tepe, which is located on a hilltop in southeastern Turkey, is considered the oldest temple in the world. It dates back to 10-8 millennium BC, i.e. The temple is already 12,000 years old. Excavations began in 1995 by Professor Klaus Schmidt, who views the site as a sanctuary. Archaeologists believe that it was a place of worship, ritual or religious purposes.
Carved reliefs have been found on the columns of Göbekli Tepe, mainly images of lions, foxes, wild boars, snakes, cranes and wild ducks. The construction of the temple preceded the emergence of pottery, writing, as well as the invention of the wheel and animal husbandry. No traces of domesticated plants or animals were found at the excavation site.
3. Temple of Amada
Egypt
The Temple of Amad is the oldest temple in Nubia. It dates back to the Eighteenth Dynasty and was first built by Thutmose III, who dedicated the temple to Amun Ra and Re-Horakhty. Amenhotep II continued the decoration of the Temple of Amad, and his successor Thutmose IV installed a roof over the courtyard. Later, Akhenaten, who tried to abandon polytheism and introduce the cult of Aten, banned the worship of Amun in the temple, but Seti I, during the 19th dynasty, returned everything to normal. Two important inscriptions were found in the temple of Amad. The first belongs to Amenhotep II and was made during the third year of his reign. It describes the pharaoh's mercilessness during battles in Asia, where he personally executed seven chiefs of the Takhi region. The second text mentions the defeat of an attempted invasion of Libya during the reign of Merneptah. The temple preserves many beautiful objects, including brightly colored reliefs.
4. Ggantija Temples
Malta
They are older than Stonehenge and the great pyramids of Egypt. These are the two Ggantija Temples on the island of Gozo off the coast of Malta, which have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Temples dating between 3600 BC and 3000 BC, were dedicated to the Great Mother Earth. Also, the evidence found in them indicates that they once housed an oracle.
The name Ggantija comes from the word "jangt", the Maltese word for giants, as local folklore believed that these buildings were built by giants who used them for worship. Today, very little is known about the religious ceremonies that took place at this place, but scientists believe that animal sacrifices and “liquid sacrifices” were performed here, which were poured into special holes. Perhaps Ggantija was a place of fertility cult.
5. Hajar Kim and Mnajdra
Malta
These two temples were built between 3600 BC. and 3200 BC on the southern tip of the island of Malta. The distance between the two megalithic temple complexes is approximately 500 meters. In 1992, UNESCO recognized these structures as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is assumed that the temples were used for astronomical observations or as a calendar. No written records have been found that tell the purpose of these structures, but remains of animal bones have been found, as well as sacrificial flint knives and holes through which something was lowered on ropes (probably victims). The temples were not used as tombs because no human remains were found in them. It is believed that these 5,500-year-old structures were used for religious purposes.
6. Temple of Seti I
Egypt
The temple is located in Abydos on the banks of the Nile River. It was built in 1279 BC around the end of the reign of Pharaoh Seti I. It is believed that his son Ramesses II completed the construction of this temple dedicated to Osiris, which has seven shrines, each dedicated to a different Egyptian deity (Horus, Isis , Osiris, Amon Ra, Ra-Gorakhti and Ptah). The most notable thing about this temple is the list of kings of Abydos that is carved on the wall (it contains the names of the 76 rulers of ancient Egypt).
7. Hypogeum
Malta
Located in Malta, this temple was discovered by chance in 1902. It is located entirely underground and is believed to have originally been a sanctuary. In it, archaeologists found the remains of more than 7,000 people, as well as a whole series objects such as amulets, beads, ceramics, stone and clay heads, carvings of people and animals.
The most remarkable discovery is a clay figurine called the Sleeping Lady, which scientists believe symbolizes the mother goddess. It is believed that the site was first used as early as 4000 BC. and abandoned in 2500 BC. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition, only a few people per day are allowed to visit, and the queue must be signed up several weeks in advance.
8. Temple of Hatshepsut
Egypt
Hatshepsut's mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri is located on the west bank of the Nile. It was designed statesman and the architect of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut named Senmut. It took a total of 15 years to build this temple between the 7th and 22nd years of Hatshepsut's reign (who reigned from 1479 BC until her death in 1458 BC). The temple was built to commemorate Hatshepsut's achievements and to serve as a mortuary temple for her, as well as to act as a sanctuary for the god Amun Ra.
9. Luxor Temple
Egypt
Luxor Temple, located on the eastern bank of the Nile River, is one of the oldest Egyptian temples. Although today it is a tourist attraction, the temple was originally dedicated to three Egyptian gods: Amun, Mut and Khonsu. The temple was also used for the Opet festival, one of the most important religious festivals in Ancient Egypt. The temple was built in 1400 BC. Amenhotep III (1390-52 BC), and then completed by Tutankhamun (1336-1327 BC) and Horemheb (1323-1295 BC) .).
10. Stonehenge
England
Stonehenge, located in Wiltshire, England, is one of the world's most famous and oldest megalithic structures. It is believed to have been built from 3000 to 2000 BC. Stonehenge consists of a ring of standing stones, each of which is approximately 4 meters, 2 - 3.5 meters wide and weighs 25 tons.
It is unknown which civilization made this structure, as there are no written records left behind. Moreover, people do not know the exact purpose for which Stonehenge was built. It is widely believed that the monument was used as a burial ground or ceremonial complex or temple of the dead.
They look no less amazing today. For scientists there is also huge amount unsolved mysteries.
The architecture of temples has a very rich and controversial history, which, however, shows that it was with the construction of temples that all architectural innovations, all new styles and trends began and spread throughout the world. The majestic religious buildings of great civilizations have survived to this day. ancient world. And also many modern examples of amazing architecture of religious buildings appeared.
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1. Hallgrimskirkja
The Lutheran Church in Reykjavik is the fourth tallest building in Iceland. The design of the church was developed in 1937 by the architect Gudjoun Samuelson. It took 38 years to build the church. The church is located in the center of Reykjavik, and is visible from any part of the city. It has become one of the main attractions of the city and is also used as an observation tower.
2. Las Lajas Cathedral
One of the most visited temples in Colombia. Construction of the temple was completed in 1948. The neo-Gothic cathedral was built directly on a 30-meter arched bridge connecting the two sides of a deep gorge. The temple is cared for by two Franciscan communities, one Colombian, the other Ecuadorian. Thus, the Cathedral of Las Lajas became a pledge of peace and union between the two South American peoples.
3. Notre-Dame du Haut
Concrete pilgrimage church built in 1950-55. in the French city of Ronchamp. The architect Le Corbusier, not being religious, agreed to take on the project on the condition that catholic church will give him complete freedom of creative expression. Initially, the non-standard building caused violent protests from local residents, who refused to supply water and electricity to the temple, but by now tourists who come to see it have become one of the main sources of income for the Ronchans.
4. Jubilee Church
Or the Church of the Merciful God the Father is a community center in Rome. It was built by architect Richard Meier in 1996-2003 with the aim of revitalizing the lives of residents of the area. The temple was built from precast reinforced concrete on a triangular site on the border of a city park, surrounded by 10-story residential and public buildings population of about 30,000 inhabitants.
5. St. Basil's Cathedral
The Orthodox Church is located on Red Square in Moscow. A widely known monument of Russian architecture and one of the most famous landmarks in Russia. It was built in 1555-1561 by order of Ivan the Terrible in memory of the victory over the Kazan Khanate. According to legend, the architects of the cathedral were blinded by order of Ivan the Terrible so that they could not build another similar temple.
6. Milan Cathedral
The world famous fourth largest church in the world is located in the very center of Milan and is its symbol. It is a late Gothic wonder that contains a forest of spiers and sculptures, marble pinnacles and columns. The white marble cathedral was built over 5 centuries.
7. Church of the Holy Family
The Barcelona church, built with private donations starting in 1882, is a famous project by Antoni Gaudí. Unusual appearance temple made it one of the main attractions of Barcelona. However, due to the complexity of making stone structures, the cathedral will not be completed until 2026.
8. Paraportiani Church
The dazzling white church is located on greek island Mykonos. The temple was built in the 15th to 17th centuries and consists of five separate churches: four churches are built on the ground, and the fifth is based on these four.
9. Stavkirka in Borgunn
One of the oldest surviving frame churches is in Norway. No metal parts were used in the construction of the Borgund headquarters. And the number of parts that make up the church exceeds 2 thousand. The strong frame of the racks was assembled on the ground and then raised into vertical position using long poles. The Stavkirka was built in Borgunn presumably in 1150-80.
10. Cathedral Holy Virgin Maria
The Cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Brasilia was built in the modernist style according to the design of the famous architect Oscar Niemeyer. In 1988, Oscar Niemeyer received the Pritzker Prize for his design of the Cathedral. The building consists of 16 hyperboloid columns, symbolizing hands raised to the sky. The space between the columns is covered with stained glass windows.
11. Grundtvig Church
Lutheran church located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is one of the most famous churches in the city and a rare example of a religious building built in the expressionist style. The competition for designs for the future church was won in 1913 by the architect Peder Klint. Construction lasted from 1921 to 1926.
12. Cathedral - Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Gloriousness
This is the highest in Latin America Catholic Cathedral. Its height is 114 m + 10 m cross at the top. The shape of the cathedral was inspired by Soviet satellites. The initial design of the cathedral was proposed by Don Jaime Luis Coelho, and the cathedral was designed by the architect Jose Augusto Bellucci. The cathedral was built between July 1959 and May 1972.
13. Church of Consolation
Located in the Spanish city of Cordoba. The still young church was designed by the architectural bureau Vicens + Ramos last year according to all the rules of strict minimalist canons. The only deviation from strictly white there is a golden wall in place of the altar.
14. Church of St. George
The cave church, entirely carved into the rocks, is located in the Ethiopian city of Lalibela. The building is a cross 25 by 25 meters and goes underground for the same amount. This miracle was created in the 13th century by order of King Lalibela, according to legend, over a period of 24 years. There are a total of 11 temples in Lalibela, completely carved out of the rocks and connected by tunnels.
16. Church of St. Joseph
St. Joseph's Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Chicago was built in 1956. Known throughout the world for its 13 golden domes, symbolizing the 12 apostles and Jesus Christ.
17. Cathedral of Our Lady of Tears
The cathedral, shaped like a concrete tent, rises above the Italian city of Syracuse. In the middle of the last century, an elderly couple lived on the site of the cathedral, who had a statuette of the Madonna. One day the figurine began to “cry” human tears, and pilgrims from all over the world flocked to the city. A huge cathedral was built in her honor, perfectly visible from anywhere in the city.
18. Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira
The Cathedral of Zipaquira in Colombia is carved into solid salt rock. A dark tunnel leads to the altar. The height of the cathedral is 23 m, the capacity is over 10 thousand people. Historically, there was a mine in this place, used by the Indians to obtain salt. When this was no longer necessary, a temple appeared on the site of the mine.
20. US Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel
Located in Colorado on the territory of a military camp and training base of a branch of the US Air Force pilot academy. The monumental profile of the chapel building is created by seventeen rows of steel frames, ending in peaks at a height of about fifty meters. The building is divided into three levels, and services of the Catholic, Protestant and Jewish denominations are held in its halls.
21. St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery
One of the oldest monasteries in Kyiv. Includes the Newly Built St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral, a refectory with the Church of St. John the Evangelist and a bell tower. It is assumed that St. Michael's Cathedral was the first temple with a gilded top, where this unique tradition originated in Rus'.
22. Chapel of the Crown of Thorns
The wooden chapel is located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, USA. The chapel was erected in 1980 according to the design of architect E. Fay Jones. The chapel is light and airy and has a total of 425 windows.
24. Arctic Cathedral
Lutheran Church in the Norwegian city of Tromsø. According to the architect's idea, the exterior of the building, consisting of two merging triangular structures covered with aluminum plates, should evoke an association with an iceberg.
25. Painted Church in Arbor
Painted churches are the most famous architectural landmarks of Moldova. The churches are decorated with frescoes both outside and inside. Each of these temples is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
26. Mosque in Tirana
A project for a cultural center in the Albanian capital Tirana, which will include a mosque, an Islamic cultural center and a Museum of Religious Harmony. International competition The project was won by the Danish architectural bureau BIG last year.
27. Farmers' Chapel
The concrete chapel on the edge of a field near the German town of Mechernich was built by local farmers in honor of their patron saint, Bruder Claus.
28. Inflatable Church
Dutch philosopher Frank Los came up with an inflatable Transparent Church, which can be erected in any corner of the globe and under any conditions: at festivals, private parties and other public events. The inflatable church easily fits in the trunk of a car and, when disassembled, can accommodate about 30 parishioners.
