We will go our own way. The Most Astonishing Orthodox Churches
Wonderful frescos and mosaics, wonder-working icons of Orthodox saints, valuable religious artefacts and great artists pieces of art are hidden in the most famous Orthodox churches of the world. All these priceless religious masterpieces are available for everyone today. Travelers of the different religions like to visit Orthodox churches. One cathedrals adore with its large areas, others attract with its luxury decoration, the third became known for the whole world thanks to their Christian holy sites.
Church of the Savior on the Blood, Russia
Church of the Savior on the Blood is one of the greatest churches in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. It has been built for 24 years and was finished right before the revolution in 1907. It was built in honour of Emperor Alexander II. Right at this place, he was fatally wounded in March 1881. Alexander III, son of the killed emperor, decided to build the church in honour of the Tsar-Martyr. The church was built for money from the whole of Russia. The first works have begun only two years after the emperor’s death.
Nowadays the church is situated in the picturesque area of the historical part of Saint-Petersburg. It is the greatest monument of Russian culture. Its high is 81 meters, as the year of emperor’s death. The church is quite large, at once there can be about 1 600 people. The main peculiarity of it is the unique inner decoration. Domes, walls and cupolas are decorated with the artificial mosaics. The whole area of which is 7 050 square meters. For European countries, this number is a real record.
Visitors can see the original icons made in the mosaic technique. The main decoration of the church is the old iconostasis. Also, inside the church, you can see the place where the revolutionists attempt the life of Alexander II. There was saved a pavement with the fence where the tsar has fallen. Every visitor can join a free excursion to the church. The guide acquaints people with the outstanding inner decoration and construction of the building. If you are not a fan of group excursions, take an audio guide and walk on your own.
Next - Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore
Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Italy
Florentine Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is the centre of the pilgrimage for Christians from the whole world. This cathedral has placed right at the centre of the city on the Piazza del Duomo. This historical building is a valuable masterpiece of the quattrocento style. This Orthodox cathedral is one of the oldest in the world. Its building has begun in 1296 and finished only in 1436.
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St Andrew Church, Ukraine
St. Andrew Church in Kiev was built in honour of St. Andrew the First Called. It has been built for 5 years and was finished in 1754. Notwithstanding that the cathedral high is 46 meters, it looks very graceful. The building is decorated with a number of unusual Baroque style elements. There have saved grand windows and doors with a neat ornament, wonderful columns and pilasters.
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St Basil Cathedral, Russia
A wonderful St. Basil Cathedral has placed at the Red Square in Moscow. It is one of the main religious and architectural landmarks of Russia. This splendid cathedral has been built for 6 years and the first believers visit it in the 1561 year. This cathedral commemorates the capture of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible troops. A great number of marches on Kazan were unsuccessful but in 1552 the tsar decided to take over the leadership of the troops and promised in case of a victory to build a marvellous church.
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Church of the Resurrection of Christ, Israel
Church of the Resurrection of Christ, Israel
Description
In Jerusalem has placed the greatest Orthodox Church of the world meaning – Church of the Resurrection of Christ. Mostly known as Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This cathedral was established in 325 year. The place where it is now is a precise place of the Christ crucifixion and burial. Helen, the mother of the Emperor Konstantin the Great, has decided to build the cathedral there. She has adopted Christianity several years before the death. Earlier at this place was a large cathedral devoted to Venice goddess.
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Basilica de Salta, Argentina
Basilica de Salta has placed in the northern-western part of Argentina in a town Salta. This cathedral is also an outstanding landmark of the world meaning. The church has placed right in the centre of the town. It was beginning to build in 1856 at the place of the old that was destroyed by the earthquake. The cathedral building was finished in 1882, its façade has a tremendous decoration.
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Ascension Military Cathedral, Russia
In Novocherkassk you can see the Ascension Military Cathedral where the remains of great Don headmen are placed. The first cathedral was built there 6 years after the city foundation. What we see today belongs to the beginning of the 20th century. It is a wonderful 75 meters tall architectural monument in Neo-Byzantine style.
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St Michael Golden-Domed Cathedral, Ukraine
St. Michael Golden-Domed Cathedral that is situated in Ukraine was built in the 12th century. Its founder was Sviatopolk II Iziaslavych the grandson of Yaroslav the Wise. The marvellous cathedral and monastery named after Michael the Archangel was decided to build in honour of victory over Polovtzy. In 1113 the cathedral was consecrated. It has saved its original place at the edge of the cliff of Old Kiev mountain. As for cathedral itself, it has a lot of differences from the original one.
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Cathedral of Nativity of Blessed Virgin, Russia
Cathedral of Nativity of Blessed Virgin, Russia
Description
Cathedral of Nativity of Blessed Virgin was built in 1860 in Rostov-on-Don. Originally in the 18th century, there was a small church. In the middle of the 19th century, the population of the city has drastically increased. That’s why the city government decided to build a new stone cathedral. The church worked until 1937 and after on orders of the Soviet reign it was closed. On its large area was made a zoo. During the Second World War, the building was used as a storage. Some parts of the cathedral were destroyed by the military attacks.
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St. Sava Cathedral, Serbia
St. Sava Cathedral is situated in the historical part of Belgrade. In 1954 at the place of the modern cathedral was executed the hero of Serbia and the first bishop of Sava. In honour of the saint, it was decided to build a wonderful Orthodox church. Until now it is one of the largest cathedrals of the world. The building has begun to build in 1935. Officially the church was finished in 2004 but work of decoration continues until now.
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Temple-Monument of Alexander Nevsky, Bulgaria
Temple-Monument of Alexander Nevsky, Bulgaria
Description
Temple-Monument of Alexander Nevsky is one of the main sightseeing places in Sofia. The cathedral has appeared there only in 1912. The creator of this tremendous temple is a Russian architect Alexander Pomerantsev. This Orthodox Church is one of the largest in the whole world. Its area is 3 170 meters and it can hold about 5 000 people inside. The most interesting part of the cathedral is the bell tower. It has 12 bells and their weight is about 23 tones.
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Cathedral Timisoara Trei Ierarhi, Romania
Cathedral Timisoara Trei Ierarhi is the largest Orthodox Church in Romania. It was built in 1940 and until now it is the highest cathedrals in the world. The inner decoration works weren’t finished because of the war. But this wasn’t a reason not to dedicated a temple to God. Only 16 years after the official open, the decoration was finished.
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Temple of Tsmind Sameba, Georgia
Temple of Tsmind Sameba has placed on the top of the hill of Saint Elias in Tbilisi, Georgia. Its name translates from the Georgian language as the temple of the Most Holy Trinity. This cathedral was built from 1995 to 2002, that’s why we can call it a young one. Its area is about 5 000 square meters, that is rather large for a temple.
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Uspenskin Cathedral, Finland
Uspenskin Cathedral has placed in Helsinki. It was built in 1868 and is still a tremendous monument made in Neo-Byzantine style. This wonderful Orthodox Church is set upon a hillside on the Katajanokka Peninsula overlooking the city. A great number of legends are connected with it. According to unofficial figures, the prototype to Uspenskin Cathedral was a nice church in Kolomenskoye. The main building material was a red brick that was taken from the destroyed Bomarsund fortress.
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Orthodoxe Russe Saint-Nicolas Cathedral, France
Orthodoxe Russe Saint-Nicolas Cathedral, France
Description
Orthodoxe Russe Saint-Nicolas Cathedral is one of the most interesting places in Nice, France. In was built in 1903 and was finished in 1912. The cathedral is made in a style that is typical for Moscow five-domed churches of the 17th century. The main material was a light-brown brick. For elaboration, there was used a marvellous rose granite and a nice blue ceramic tile.
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