5 Biggest Churches

November 6, 2009 Buildings, Religion

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St. Peter’s Basilica (1,200,000 m3)
The biggest christian church is St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Vatican City, named after Saint Peter, who is also buried there. Its construction began in 1506 and it was dedicated in 1626, 120 years of work for many architects, the most famous one was Michelangelo.  It is not only the biggest church by volume, but, with holding 60,000 people, has also the largest interior of any christian church in the world. And it is one of the most visited places of the word, 20,000 people daily visited the ‘Mother Church’ of the Roman Catholic Church in 2007.
Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida (1,200,000 m3)
The new basilica in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is the second biggest church in the world. It is also a Roman Catholic Church, built 1955 – 1984 and dedicated by Pope John Paul II in 1980 while still under construction. Due to the popular devotion of Our Lady of Aparecida it became necessary to add this new building to the old basilica. Constructed in form of a Greek cross and holding 45,000 people it became the most important national Marian Shrine in Brazil.
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro (1,000,000 m3)
The 3rd biggest church of the word (by volume) is Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Ivory Cost, constructed to be the world biggest church and monument to the former president of the Ivory Coast. Built 1985 – 1989 and also a Roman Catholic Church it is designed closely to St. Peter’s Basilica, holding 18,000 people. Its construction has brought up much controversy when it began; it doubled the national debt of Ivory Coast and is a doubtful project at a place where most people not even have running water at their homes.
Cathedral of Seville (500,000 m3)
The Cathedral of Seville, also known as Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, is 4th biggest church and again a Roman Catholic one. It was built 1402 – 1506 to demonstrate Seville’s wealth but was a bit ill-starred, it collapsed in 1511 so work on it recommenced, collapsed again in 1888 due to an earthquake and work on the Cathedral lasted until 1903. Christopher Columbus was brought there 1902 from cathedral of Havana, Cuba, where he was originally buried and has now a monumental tomb near the doorway.
Cathedral of Saint John the Divine (480,000 m3)
This Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York is the 5th biggest church and nicknamed St. John the Unfinished and The White Elephant of the Upper West Side. It was designed in 1888; work on it began in 1892 but was interrupted by the two World Wars and was opened completely for the first time in 1941. After a large fire in 2001 it was closed for repairs and reopened in 2008 but remains unfinished, restoration remain a continuing process.
The cathedral is a style mixture, first Byzantine-Romanesque designed, later changed to a Gothic design, with chapels in Gothic styles as well as Norman and Byzantine, Gothic choir stalls and Roman arches and columns.

1.St. Peter’s Basilica (1,200,000 m3)

st-peters-basilica

The biggest christian church is St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Vatican City, named after Saint Peter, who is also buried there. Its construction began in 1506 and it was dedicated in 1626, 120 years of work for many architects, the most famous one was Michelangelo. It is not only the biggest church by volume, but, with holding 60,000 people, has also the largest interior of any christian church in the world. And it is one of the most visited places of the word, 20,000 people daily visited the ‘Mother Church’ of the Roman Catholic Church in 2007.

2.Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida (1,200,000 m3)

Basilica-of-the-National-Sh

The new basilica in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is the second biggest church in the world. It is also a Roman Catholic Church, built 1955 – 1984 and dedicated by Pope John Paul II in 1980 while still under construction. Due to the popular devotion of Our Lady of Aparecida it became necessary to add this new building to the old basilica. Constructed in form of a Greek cross and holding 45,000 people it became the most important national Marian Shrine in Brazil.

3.Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro (1,000,000 m3)

Our-Lady-of-Peace-of-Yamous

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The 3rd biggest church of the word (by volume) is Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Ivory Cost, constructed to be the world biggest church and monument to the former president of the Ivory Coast. Built 1985 – 1989 and also a Roman Catholic Church it is designed closely to St. Peter’s Basilica, holding 18,000 people. Its construction has brought up much controversy when it began; it doubled the national debt of Ivory Coast and is a doubtful project at a place where most people not even have running water at their homes.

4.Cathedral of Seville (500,000 m3)

Cathedral-of-Seville

The Cathedral of Seville, also known as Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, is 4th biggest church and again a Roman Catholic one. It was built 1402 – 1506 to demonstrate Seville’s wealth but was a bit ill-starred, it collapsed in 1511 so work on it recommenced, collapsed again in 1888 due to an earthquake and work on the Cathedral lasted until 1903. Christopher Columbus was brought there 1902 from cathedral of Havana, Cuba, where he was originally buried and has now a monumental tomb near the doorway.

5.Cathedral of Saint John the Divine (480,000 m3)

Cathedral-of-Saint-John

This Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York is the 5th biggest church and nicknamed St. John the Unfinished and The White Elephant of the Upper West Side. It was designed in 1888; work on it began in 1892 but was interrupted by the two World Wars and was opened completely for the first time in 1941. After a large fire in 2001 it was closed for repairs and reopened in 2008 but remains unfinished, restoration remain a continuing process.

The cathedral is a style mixture, first Byzantine-Romanesque designed, later changed to a Gothic design, with chapels in Gothic styles as well as Norman and Byzantine, Gothic choir stalls and Roman arches and columns.

Written by Karin from Austria

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  • Shaiff
    Ninja are u talking about some girls? :P
  • Ninja_Wallaby
    Awesome list grrl hahahahahaha
  • Shaiff
    Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro looks stunning
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