List of the highest Orthodox churches and bell towers. The largest Orthodox churches in the world Where are there more churches

From historical information it is known that around the 16th century, a certain part of Serbia was under the yoke of the Ottoman Empire. That is why, in order to break the spirit of the inhabitants of Serbia, the Ottomans decided to desecrate the remains of St. Sava, who is the founder of the Serbian church and is considered the most revered saint in this state.

From the same chronicles, information, historical facts, it is known that the Ottoman Turks brought the remains to Belgrade and publicly burned them in front of the inhabitants on Mount Vracar.

Cathedral of Saint Sava

Around the 19th century, Serbia gained its own independence and it was at that moment that the sentimental question arose about how to perpetuate the memory of the Shrine.

It was then that a certain architectural project arose for the construction of the largest Orthodox church in the world on the site where the remains of St. Sava were burned. Around 1935, the foundation was laid, but after some time the Great War and the reign of Soviet power began, so the construction of the largest Orthodox church in the world ended only in 2004.

The largest Orthodox church in the world.

Naturally, many Orthodox Christian believers may wonder if this temple is worthy of such a great and honorary title as the largest in the world?

Historians, architects and other experts say that in fact this temple is the largest in size and has no equal in the whole world. As mentioned earlier, the Temple of St. Sava is located in Belgorod and holds the record not only for design, but also for the duration of construction.

Some Christians claim that the largest cathedral is the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, but scientists, after conducting several studies, have established that the Temple of St. Sava is much larger and longer.

Every tourist, parishioner and pilgrim knows that if you come to Belgorod, then the largest Orthodox church in the world is visible from any point, since it is located at the highest point above sea level. The architects claim that the cross, which is located on the dome of the cathedral, visually increases its height by about 12 m.

Currently, there are considerable disputes about the style in which this temple is made. Priests and historians claim that this is a neo-Byzantine style, while other experts put forward the opinion that this is a Serbian-Byzantine style. It is important to take into account that the priests of this holy place claim that during the service the temple can accommodate more than 10,000 believing parishioners and at the same time about 800 various choir singers.

Naturally, the temple has a place of honor, because it was on it that the relics of the Shrine were burned around the 16th century.

Between many Christian communities there is a dispute in absentia, who will build the largest and most beautiful church, many of which become architectural masterpieces that attract crowds of tourists. The greatest architects of their era were involved in the creation of majestic structures, and construction could last for centuries. Meet the ten largest churches in the world.

10. Temple of St. Sava, Belgrade, Serbia

The Temple of St. Sava has an area of ​​8.162 square meters and is the largest Orthodox church in the world. The construction of the cathedral began in 1935, the building was completed only in 1986, and opened only in 2004, while the interior decoration was not yet completed. The church was named after the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Saint Sava.

9. Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Zaragoza, Spain

One of the most famous cathedrals in Spain, the Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar has an area of ​​8.318 square meters. The building, made in the Gothic style, was built in the second half of the 17th century, located on the banks of the Ebro River. In the middle of the basilica stands a column topped by a 15th-century statue of Mary with the Child in her arms.

8. Church of the Holy Trinity, Fatima, Portugal

The Church of the Holy Trinity has an area of ​​8700 square meters, stands out among the churches in the top, with a very unusual architecture. The building turned out to be very low with simple, laconic forms, where there are no turrets and a Gothic-style facade that attracts attention.

7. Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool, UK

With an area of ​​9,687 meters, Liverpool Cathedral is not only the largest Anglican church in the world, but also the tallest church in the world without a spire. The building with a large central tower was built for almost 70 years. The foundation was laid in 1904, and the interior decoration was completed only in the 70s.

6. Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen, Lichen Stary, Poland

The Basilica of the Blessed Virgin of Lichenska has an area of ​​10.090 square meters. The most interesting thing is that the church is located in a village where only 1,100 inhabitants live and looks simply gigantic against the backdrop of toy houses of local residents. The basilica is the main place of pilgrimage for believers in Poland.

5. Milan Cathedral, Milan, Italy

Milan Cathedral, with an area of ​​10.186 square meters built of white marble, is the main attraction of the city. This is the oldest church in our ranking, which began to be built in 1386 and was completed only in 1965. The building is made in the classic Gothic style.

4. Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, New York, USA

The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in New York has an area of ​​11,200 square meters. The building began to be built in 1892 on Amsterdam Avenue between 110th and 113th streets, several, but still so, and not completed. During this time, the construction was replaced by several architects, so both the Byzantine-Roman style and the new Gothic can be traced in the appearance and interior decoration of the cathedral.

3. Seville Cathedral, Seville, Spain

Seville Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Maria de la Sede, with an area of ​​11.520 square meters. The cathedral was built at the beginning of the 16th century on the site of a former mosque, which for a long time was one of the largest churches in the world.

2. Basilica of the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aparecida, Aparcida, Brazil

The Basilica of the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aparecida has an area of ​​12,000 square meters, actually taking up more space than the town in which it is located. The church is made in the form of a cross and is the main center of pilgrimage for Brazilian believers.

1. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican

The largest church in the world is the center of Catholicism, St. Peter's Cathedral, which has an area of ​​20.193 square meters. Here lies the ashes of St. Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. It took more than a hundred years to build the cathedral, which was worked on by several prominent Italian architects. For at least the next hundred years, St. Peter's Basilica will remain the largest and most beautiful church in the world.

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For many centuries, many people have tried and made a lot of work in order to build various structures. As a result, quite a few temples, churches and monasteries appeared. Indeed, even in those distant times, the largest buildings were built precisely so that Orthodox Christians had the opportunity to bow to the Mother of God, the Lord God and other saints who are revered in Orthodoxy.

The largest temples in Europe

Ulm Cathedral is considered the largest Orthodox church in Europe and throughout the world. It is located in Germany. The height of its tallest building reaches 162 meters. Tourists who visit the cathedral every year have a unique opportunity to visit the highest point. It can be climbed by a stone staircase. An interesting historical fact is that the construction of this cathedral took place over five centuries.

The construction of the second largest cathedral in Europe began in 1248, but for financial reasons it was completed only in 1880. It's called Cologne Cathedral. Its height is 157 meters. It is located in Germany. Today, the cathedral has the largest facade in the world.

One of the largest temples in Europe is the Cathedral of Seville. Its location is in Andalusia. Today it is the main attraction of the country of Spain. It was founded five centuries ago, but despite this, thanks to its luxurious architecture, the temple attracts a considerable number of tourists. It is important to note that this cathedral is generally recognized as the largest Gothic cathedral not only in Europe, but throughout the planet.

Another large temple is the temple of Tsminda Sameba. Translated into Russian, it means the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. This cathedral is located in Georgia in Tbilisi. It is considered to be the main Orthodox cathedral on the territory of the state of Georgia. It contains thirteen thrones. The lower temple was built in honor of. And the belfry was built separately.

The construction of this temple began in 1989. This construction was timed to coincide with the celebration of the autocephaly of the Georgian Church. The height of the cathedral itself, without above the domed cross, reaches 98 meters, plus the cross is almost 8 meters.

The largest Orthodox churches in Russia

In Russia, as well as throughout Europe, there are quite a few churches built:

• The largest is the Cathedral of the Savior of Christ. It is located in the city of Moscow, which is located in Russia. Its construction took place over three years and was completed in 1997. The temple was built in the Russian-Byzantine architectural style. Its height is 103 meters.
• The next largest is St. Isaac's Cathedral. Officially, it has a different name - the Cathedral of St. Isaac of Dalmatia. This is the largest cathedral in St. Petersburg. Its height reaches 102 meters. It officially has the status of a museum. But despite this, the community that lives on its territory has the opportunity to worship on some days with the permission of the museum management. This cathedral was consecrated by Peter 1 in honor of Isaac of Dalmatia. The emperor was very revered by this saint, since he was born on the day of his memory.
• Another large temple in size, which is located on the territory of Russia, is the Transfiguration Cathedral. Its height is 96 meters. This cathedral is the largest in the Far East. Its upper hall can accommodate up to 2,000 people, and the lower one about 1,500 people. Its construction lasted about 2 years and ended in 2004. The cathedral is a symbol of the power of the country.

The Lord is always with you!

A selection of the heritage of Russia, the most beautiful temples of the Russian Federation

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary city of Rostov-on-Don.

The temple was built according to the standard design of the architect K. A. Ton and outwardly very similar to his other temples built according to his projects: the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow and the Vvedensky Temple of the Semenovsky Regiment in St. Petersburg and the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Petrozavodsk that have not survived to this day. But to say that one is a copy of the other is wrong.

In addition, in 1887, according to the project of the military architect-engineer A. A. Campioni and the artist-architect D. V. Lebedev, a four-tiered bell tower was erected from its western side with the church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of the World of Lycia and a belfry, 75 meters. The announcement of its 10-ton bell is heard for 42 versts along the Don.

Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg, a temple of military glory, one of the most magnificent temple buildings in St. Petersburg.

The main façade of the cathedral overlooks Nevsky Prospekt and forms a unique image of the main thoroughfare of the city. The building of the temple, conceived by the architect A.N. Voronikhin, bears the features of European classical architecture, in particular, St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, and at the same time, the Russian architectural style with elements of eclecticism and classicism is clearly traced here. The cathedral impresses with its gigantic, slightly curving colonnade, which consists of 96 thirteen-meter Corinthian columns. These huge columns are made up of blocks of stone brought from special quarries in Gatchina, a suburb of St. Petersburg. And in the external design of the cathedral there are picturesque reliefs and statues.

Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow

The most famous and most important cathedral in the country.

It was recreated in the 1990s on the site of the temple of the same name, created in the 19th century. The temple, 105 meters high, was built in the Russian-Byzantine style. The domes of the cathedral are made of stainless steel and covered with a thin layer of gold, and for weather protection they were also coated with a layer of diamond dust. The temple has 12 external doors cast in bronze. Numerous figures of saints are placed in the arches and niches of the temple. At present, the temple has the status of a courtyard of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

Epiphany Cathedral in Yelokhovo (Moscow)

It was built in 1837 according to the project of the architect E.D. Tyurin. The building was built in the style of classicism and crowned with five domes on light drums, which are the main decoration of the temple. The large central rotunda has high semicircular windows with elegant paintings on top, which are separated by paired columns. The temple is crowned with a huge golden dome with a small dome at the top. The side entrances to the temple are very large, divided by columns into three parts; top are semicircular windows. Shoots are framed by wide paired pilasters. In 1930 the temple became the patriarchal cathedral. The Epiphany Cathedral has been the heart of the spiritual life of Orthodox Russia for the last 60 years. It never closed.

Resurrection Cathedral of the New Jerusalem Monastery (Istra)

A unique temple building, both in complexity and beauty, built in 1658-1685.

The cathedral was conceived as a copy of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, but during the construction it turned out not to be an exact repetition of the prototype, but rather its artistic transformation. The cathedral consists of several parts: in the center - a four-pillar church of the Resurrection, from the west of it - a rotunda covered with a high tent with a chapel of the Holy Sepulcher, from the east - the underground church of St. Constantine and Helena, as well as preserved fragments of the bell tower.

Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir

Cathedral Orthodox Church of the Vladimir Diocese on the Cathedral Square in the city of Vladimir.

The Assumption Cathedral is the most beautiful architectural structure of Ancient Russia, a unique monument of the Vladimir-Suzdal white-stone architecture of the pre-Mongolian period. According to his model, the Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti built the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The Cathedral of the Dormition contains samples of art by the best artists of different times, from nameless painters of the mid-12th century to the brilliant Andrei Rublev and masters of the 17th-18th centuries.

Annunciation Cathedral of the Kazan Kremlin (Kazan)

It is one of the oldest and most interesting monuments of Russian church architecture.

The laying of a wooden church on the site of the future cathedral is erected to the deeds of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. The cathedral belongs to the Pskov school of Russian architecture. During this period, masters Postnik Yakovlev and Ivan Shiryai were instructed to go to Kazan to build a new stone city (Kremlin). The domes of the cathedral were originally semicircular in shape, but in 1736 they were remade. Four domes became onion, the middle dome of the cathedral was built in the Ukrainian baroque style, covered with copper and gilded. Cathedral of the Annunciation in the Kazan Kremlin It remains the most ancient building in the ensemble of the Kremlin.

Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod

A wonderful architectural monument, which has absorbed not only the features of Russian, but also foreign architecture.

Thus, the western entrance of St. Sophia Cathedral is decorated with the famous Maglebur Gates of the 12th century. Tradition says that this is a war trophy obtained by the Novgorodians during the capture of the Swedish capital Sigtuna in 1187. There is also the Korsun gates of the 11th century of Byzantine work leading to the Christmas limit. During the Great Patriotic War, the cathedral was destroyed, but retained its shape. At present, it is almost the same as it was in the 11th century. This is a five-nave cross-domed church with three apses.

St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral in St. Petersburg

A beautiful temple in the style of Elizabethan Baroque, located on Nikolskaya Square.

It was built in the period from 1753 to 1762 (architect S.I. Chevakinsky) at the naval regimental yard on the site of a wooden church, and can accommodate about five thousand people. Next to the cathedral is a four-tiered bell tower topped with a high spire. The majestic building of St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral is decorated with Corinthian columns gathered in bunches, stucco architraves, a wide entablature and crowned with gilded five-domed heads. The rich plasticity of the facade is complemented by balconies with patterned forged gratings. During the consecration, the cathedral was called a naval one, since the victories of the Russian fleet were celebrated in it.

Vladimir Cathedral in St. Petersburg is dedicated to the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, one of the most revered icons in Russia.

This five-domed temple is an architectural monument of the transitional style from baroque to classicism, it includes two churches - the upper and lower. Currently, services are held only in the upper church. The sails of the central dome are decorated with sculptures of the evangelists.

Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral of the Solovetsky Monastery

The majestic two-pillar temple, more than 40 meters high, which has no analogues in medieval Russia

It is crowned with five chapters. The drum under the central dome is displaced to the east and is perceived as a tent. The high arches of the temple rest on two massive pillars, the light falls from above from the tent-drum, which, as it were, soars above the iconostasis. The history of the main temple of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Solovetsky stauropegial monastery has almost six centuries. The holy relics of the founders of the Solovetsky - the Monk Zosima and Savvaty are kept here.

Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The largest Orthodox church in Astrakhan. Located on the territory of the Astrakhan Kremlin.

Built in 1699-1710, it is considered one of the best examples of Russian church architecture of the early 18th century, and is the only architectural temple complex that has survived in Russia, where the temple and the Execution Ground are connected.

Annunciation Cathedral, 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. The height of the temple itself is 85 meters, and its highest point is 97 meters. It is the third largest Orthodox church in Russia and one of the highest Orthodox churches in the world. Construction was carried out from 1998 to 2009.

Holy Trinity Cathedral in the city of Murom, on the left bank of the Oka River.

Erected in 1643. The main decoration of the Holy Trinity Cathedral are forged gilded crosses - masterpieces of blacksmith work by Murom craftsmen of the 17th century - and glazed tiles of the same century with various ornaments. The tiles give the Trinity Cathedral a special elegance and unique originality, which distinguishes it from other Murom churches.

Smolny of the Resurrection of Christ

The cathedral is part of the architectural ensemble of the Smolny Monastery, which is located in St. Petersburg on the left bank of the Neva on Smolnaya Embankment.

In the 1730s, the heir to the royal throne, Elizaveta Petrovna, decided to spend the last years of her life in the peace and quiet of the monastery, surrounded by one hundred and twenty noble maidens. Already being the empress, she ordered to build a monastery on the site of the "Smolny House" - the palace in which she lived her youth. The monastery complex was to include a temple with house churches and a bell tower and an institute for girls from noble families. The architect of the cathedral is F. B. Rastrelli.

Trinity-Izmailovsky Cathedral on Trinity Square in the Admiralteysky district of St. Petersburg.

The full name is the Cathedral of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity of the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky Regiment. The stone cathedral, cruciform in plan, is topped with a powerful five-domed dome. The temple was built in the Empire style. At the time of consecration, the cathedral was the largest in Russia. The domes are painted with gold stars on a blue background on the personal instructions of Nicholas I, given in 1826: the domes should be painted like the domes of the Archangel Cathedral in Moscow and Tver Cathedral in Tver. The facades of the cathedral are decorated with six-column porticoes of the Corinthian order with a sculptural frieze. In the niches of the porticos there are bronze figures of angels.

Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ on Blood, Church of the Savior on Blood in St. Petersburg

The Orthodox memorial single-altar church in the name of the Resurrection of Christ was built in memory of the fact that Emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded on this site on March 1, 1881 as a result of an assassination attempt (the expression on the blood indicates the blood of the king). The temple was built as a monument to the Tsar-Martyr with funds raised throughout Russia, the project is made in the "Russian style", somewhat reminiscent of Moscow's St. Basil's Cathedral.

Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, on the Moat, also called St. Basil's Cathedral

An Orthodox church located on the Red Square of Kitay-gorod in Moscow.

A well-known monument of Russian architecture. Until the 17th century, it was usually called Trinity, since the original wooden church was dedicated to the Holy Trinity; was also known as "Jerusalem", which is associated both with the dedication of one of the chapels, and with the procession to it from the Assumption Cathedral on Palm Sunday with the "procession on a donkey" of the Patriarch.

Currently, the Pokrovsky Cathedral is a branch of the State Historical Museum. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in Russia.

According to legend, the architect (architects) of the cathedral were blinded by the order of Ivan the Terrible so that they could no longer build such a temple.

There are only 10 domes. Nine domes over the temple (According to the number of thrones: the Intercession of the Virgin (center), Holy Trinity (east), Entrance to Jerusalem (west), Gregory of Armenia (north-west), Alexander Svirsky (south -East.), Varlaam Khutynsky (southwest.), John the Merciful (formerly John, Paul and Alexander of Constantinople) (north-east.), Nicholas the Wonderworker Velikoretsky (southern.), Adrian and Natalia (formerly Cyprian and Justina) (sev.)) plus one dome over the bell tower.

Holy Trinity Cathedral

An Orthodox church, which is part of the architectural ensemble of the Pskov Krom and is its main building.

The construction site of the temple, which was to become the center of the settlement, was chosen by the Grand Duchess Olga, who was born here, visiting Pskov land in 957. As the chronicle says, when she was standing on the bank of the river, she had a vision in the form of three rays pointing to this place - that is why they decided to dedicate the temple to the Life-Giving Trinity.

Military Resurrection Cathedral city of Starocherkassk.

Near the temple there is a two-tier hipped bell tower 45.8 meters high. This is the only building of this type in Southern Russia.

Ascension Military Cathedral, Novocherkassk city

Founded in 1805 Its construction began in 1811, while we note that the larger St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg will begin to be built in 1818, and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow even later in 1832.

The seventh highest dome cathedral building in Russia after the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, St. Isaac's Cathedral, Smolny Resurrection Cathedral in St. Petersburg, the Trinity-Izmailovsky Cathedral in St. Petersburg, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg, the Trinity Cathedral in Pskov.

Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye

Orthodox Church of the Danilovsky Deanery of the Moscow Diocese.

The temple is located in the Nagatinsky Zaton district, the Southern Administrative District of the city of Moscow, in the former village of Kolomenskoye near Moscow. The temple is a masterpiece of world architecture, the first stone hipped temple in Russia.