Beautiful views of the temples. The most beautiful temples in the world - places of spiritual power
Here is a list of the most amazing, most luxurious, most beautiful cathedrals in the world that you should definitely see with your own eyes.
Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim, Norway
Work on the construction of the cathedral began in 1070 and ended only in 1300. It is a wonderful example of the Romanesque and Gothic styles of architecture and one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Norway. Moreover, it is historically the most significant church in Norway, because Norwegian monarchs were crowned here. The facade of the building is decorated with figures of monarchs and saints, and the interior is decorated with stained glass windows of the 20th century.
Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
This large Roman Catholic church was designed by the architect Antoni Gaudi. Construction on the temple began in 1882, and Gaudí went full blast in his drawings: curved lines, modern forms, ambitious structural columns and arches. The architect devoted his last years to this project, but even after his death in 1926, only a fourth of the structure was completed. The construction of the temple progressed extremely slowly, as it relied on private donations and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War. Half of the temple was completed only by 2010, and the expected date of full completion is 2026, just in time for the centenary of Gaudi's death. And, nevertheless, the building already looks the most amazing way! By the way, upon completion, the temple will become the tallest church in the world, as well as the church with the longest spire in the world.
Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France
The Catholic Church in the center of Paris is one of the symbols of the French capital and one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in Europe. The cathedral was built over two centuries and was completed by 1345.
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy
The Cathedral of Florence, with its wide central nave, is enormous! The proportions of the cathedral are striking: 153 meters long, 37 meters wide and 90 meters from the foot to the dome, and even 22-meter arches! The cathedral was erected for a century and a half and was completed by 1436. Particularly impressive are the dome and walls clad in multicolored marble panels. The magnificent graceful cathedral became a kind of borderline that separated the architectural traditions of the Middle Ages from the traditions of the Renaissance.
Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France
This cathedral is located in a small town 90 km southwest of Paris. The magnificent temple was recognized as a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and included in the lists of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Most of the original stained glass windows have been intact since construction in the early 13th century, while the architecture itself has undergone minor changes since the early 13th century. The appearance of the building is dominated by heavy buttresses, which allowed the architects to significantly increase the size of the windows, as well as two spiers stand out - one, 106 meters high, erected in 1140, and the other, 114 meters, built in the 16th century on top of the old tower. Equally noteworthy are the three large facades adorned with hundreds of figures illustrating theological themes.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey
The former Patriarchal Orthodox Cathedral, later a mosque, and now a museum, is one of the largest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. The structure, founded in 324, is really quite massive, 55.6 meters high and even its dome is 31 meters in diameter!
Cathedral of Saint James, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
The architecture of the cathedral, built between 1075 and 1211, is a mixture of Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic. The relics of Santiago Matamoros rest in this Catholic shrine. The whimsical facades of the cathedral, the fractional decor of the towers, sculptures of different periods, as well as an 80-kilogram censer suspended from the ceiling, the largest in the world - the size of a man's height, are impressive.
Winchester Cathedral, Winchester, UK
This cathedral church is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. This cathedral is the longest among other European cathedrals, and also here is the grave of the writer Jane Austen, who died in 1817 and was buried in the north aisle of the nave. Winchester Cathedral is a wonderful example of Gothic architecture, and its chic stained glass windows are especially surprising.
St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia
This Orthodox church, located on Red Square in the capital of Russia, was erected in the 60s of the 16th century by order of Ivan the Terrible - in memory of the capture of Kazan and the victory over the Kazan Khanate, which took place on the day of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos. The magnificent structure is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia.
Gergeti Church, Gergeti, Georgia
This cathedral is definitely different from all of the above. Perhaps the surrounding nature is even more impressive - the green and white peaks of the Caucasus, lush valleys - but the church itself is good. The 14th-century temple has a separate bell tower - it is a navigational point for hikers on a three-hour mountain climb to the temple. In Soviet times, the church was closed, but today it is returned to the Georgian Orthodox Church. 
Throughout the ages, temples for worship and divine services have been distinguished by their grandeur. They were erected, sparing no expense and effort in the name of their god.
We invite you to look at the most beautiful temples in the world. Here you will find splendid cathedrals, ancient churches, secluded monasteries and huge mosques, all of which are certainly distinguished by their magnificence and architectural uniqueness.
Headquarters in Borgunn, Norway
This is one of the oldest surviving frame churches. It was built in 1150 in honor of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called.
Taktsang Lhakhang monastery, Bhutan
The name of the monastery is translated as "tigress's nest". It was founded in 1692 on a cliff 3120 m high, 700 m above the level of the Paro valley.
Sanctuary of Santa Maria Magdalena, Spain
The temple is located three kilometers from the town of Novelda and is located high above the valley of the Vinalopo River - on the hill "Mola Mola". The construction of the temple lasted almost 30 years - it began in 1918 and ended in 1946.
Milan Cathedral, Italy
Built in flaming Gothic style in white marble. Construction began in 1386, but it was completed only at the beginning of the 19th century.
Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Slovenia
The church was founded in 1685 and is located on an island in the middle of Lake Bled. This is one of the most romantic places in the area, so many couples get married here.
United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, Colorado, USA
It is an Art Nouveau building, built between 1959 and 1962. The chapel houses four separate areas for worship of four religions under one roof: Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and small Buddhist. All zones have a separate entrance, so nothing interferes with simultaneous services.
Memorial Church of the Nativity of Christ, Bulgaria
This Orthodox church was founded in 1885 in the town of Shipka. The bell tower of the church reaches a height of 53 meters, and its 17 bells, the heaviest of which weighs 12 tons, were cast from cartridges collected after the battles.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque, UAE
This one of the six largest mosques in the world is located in the capital of the United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi. The mosque is capable of simultaneously accommodating 40 thousand believers. It houses the largest carpet in the world with an area of 5,627 square meters and the second largest chandelier - 10 meters in diameter, 15 meters in height and weighing about 12 tons.
Paoai Church, Philippines
The church was founded in 1694 in the town of Paoai on the island of Luzon. She combined features of the Gothic, Baroque and Oriental styles. In 1993, the church was included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
St patrick's cathedral, Melbourne, Australia
It is the largest and tallest cathedral in all of Australia. The church began to be built here 12 years after the founding of Melbourne in 1851.
Church Saint Elizabeth in Bratislava, Slovakia
This Art Nouveau temple was founded in 1909. It is also called the blue church - everything from the building and the benches to the blue-and-blue fence.
Christchurch Cardboard Cathedral, New Zealand
This is not a metaphor, this cathedral is really made of cardboard. The temple was built as a temporary one to replace Christchurch Cathedral, which was razed to the ground following the 2011 earthquake. It should serve for about 50 years until the community builds a new stone cathedral for itself.
Basilica "Nuestra de la Altagracia", Higuey, Dominican Republic
The temple is made in the form of a Latin cross, the walls and columns of which represent a complex architectural structure. The locals revere the Basilica of Saint Altagracia as the most important religious and cultural monument in the country.
Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord on Kizhi Island, Russia
Topped with 22 domes, this 37 meter wooden church is one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world.
Church of Jesús en el Huerto de los Olivos, Olivos, Argentina
The name literally translates as "The Church of Jesus in the Olive Park". It was founded in 1897 in the Buenos Aires suburb of Olivos.
St. Andrew's Church, Kiev, Ukraine
This Orthodox church in honor of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called was built in the Baroque style by the architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli in 1754. There is a legend according to which the place where the Dnieper now flows was the sea. When St. Andrey came to Kiev and put a cross on the mountain where St.Andrew's Church now stands, the whole sea went down. There are no bells in the church, because, according to legend, at the first blow, the water would wake up and flood not only Kiev, but the entire Left Bank.
Crystal Mosque in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia
The mosque is located in the Islamic Heritage Park on the island of Won Man. The building is covered with mirrored glass and has seven-color changing lighting.
Dutch Reformed Church in Graff Reinet, South Africa
This church from 1887 is the symbol of the city. It is considered one of the best examples of the early gothic architecture in South Africa.
Taung Kalat monastery, Myanmar
This monastery is located on top of an extinct volcano 737 meters high. To get there you need to climb the stairs of the monk Khandi - no more, no less than 777 steps!
Mosque Kul Sharif in Kazan, Russia
In the main hall of the mosque, there are books in which the names of all those who donated for the construction of the mosque are indicated, and there are more than 40 thousand of them.
Small chapel on about. Guernsey, Channel Islands
This is probably the smallest chapel in the world. It is completely decorated with seashells, pebbles and colorful pieces of china wreckage.
Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Jerusalem, Israel
This Russian Orthodox church was founded on the slope of Mount Ellion in 1885. The seven-domed one-altar temple was built of white and gray Jerusalem stone and is an example of Russian architecture in the Moscow style.
Cathedral of the Annunciation in Kharkov, Ukraine
This church is one of the main symbols of the city. The temple is made in a fashionable Byzantine-Russian style with elements of eclecticism and was opened and consecrated in 1901.
Lotus Temple in New Delhi, India
This is the main Bahai temple in India and neighboring countries, built in 1986. A huge building of snow-white Pentelian marble in the shape of a blossoming lotus flower is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Delhi.
Hallgrimskirkja, Reykjavik, Iceland
It took 38 years to build this Lutheran church. The temple is also used as an observation tower, which offers a wonderful view of Reykjavik and the surrounding mountains.
Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey
Built in the early 1600s, this mosque is famous for its cascading domes and six minarets. Most mosques have no more than four. It is considered an outstanding example of Islamic and world architecture.
St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, Kiev, Ukraine
The first temple dedicated to Archangel Michael, the heavenly patron of Kiev, was built in the XII century. Since then, the temple has been rebuilt and rebuilt many times after devastation and wars. It is assumed that the Mikhailovsky Cathedral was the first temple with a gilded top, from where this peculiar tradition originated in Russia.
Church of the Holy Trinity in Antarctica
This Russian Orthodox Church stands on Waterloo Island (South Shetland Islands) in Antarctica. It was built in the 1990s in Russia, and then transported to the island in parts. The Church of the Holy Trinity was considered the southernmost Orthodox church in the world.
Cathedral of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Moscow, Russia
The Intercession Cathedral was built in 1555-1561 by order of Ivan the Terrible in memory of the capture of Kazan. This cathedral is one of the most famous landmarks in Russia. For many, he is a symbol of Moscow.
Church of Las Lajas in Colombia
This is a neo-gothic cathedral near the border with Ecuador built on a bridge 30 meters high above the gorge. According to legend, in 1754, the miracle of the appearance of the Virgin to a poor Indian woman named Maria Mueses and her deaf and dumb daughter Rose, whom the Mother of God later healed, took place here. Since then, this place has become popular among pilgrims and as a result this magnificent temple was erected.
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Temples, cathedrals, churches and chapels are not only a sacred place for religious people, but also a terrific tourist attraction. There are churches in almost all cities of the world and most of them are distinguished by interesting and unusual architecture. Just because they are churches. We tried to select ten of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world. It turned out or not - judge for yourself.
Cathedral Las Lajas (Colombia)
Construction of the Las Lajas Cathedral inside the canyon of the Guaitara River began in 1916 and continued until 1949. The cathedral was built with donations on the site of an old chapel built in the 19th century.
A beautiful legend is connected with the construction of the chapel about how an Indian woman, whose name was Maria Musis, carried her deaf and dumb daughter Rosa on her back, when she suddenly asked (having spoken for the first time in her life) to stop in a nearby cave. There, Rose painted the Virgin Mary with her son on the wall of the cave.
Later examinations could not establish any paint or other substances with which the picture was painted. The only thing they could establish was that the stones were "soaked" in the painting several feet inward.
Whether the legend is true - no one knows. But this Gothic cathedral rightfully bears the title of one of the most beautiful and mysterious temples in the world.
Sagrada Familia (Spain)
The Sagrada Familia bears the full name "Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família". Literally translated, it means "Atonement Temple of the Holy Family." The construction of the cathedral began in 1882 and continues to this day. The initial project was developed by Antoni Gaudi, who worked on the project for over forty years. When asked why the design took so long, he replied, "My client is in no hurry."
The construction of the cathedral was interrupted by the civil war in 1936, when Catalan fanatics destroyed all models of Gaudí. Now construction continues according to the few surviving plans and modern developments. Construction is scheduled to end in 2026, but no one believes that. The project has long been dubbed "The Cathedral, which will never be completed."
St. Basil's Cathedral (Russia)
Probably not worth talking a lot about St. Basil's Cathedral. I think every person who has been to Moscow has seen him at least once. There is a cathedral on Red Square and is named after the holy fool Vasily, who dared to tell Ivan the Terrible everything he thinks about his tyranny.
And the architect who designed this cathedral was subsequently blinded by order of Ivan the Terrible, so that he could never again create anything more beautiful.
St. Basil's Cathedral has been the main attraction of Moscow for many years. And for sure for a long time visiting foreigners will ask "How to get to Red Square to St. Basil's Cathedral?"
Hagia Sophia (Turkey)
Technically, "Hagia Sophia" (from Greek - Church of the Holy Wisdom of God) is no longer a church, now this Istanbul building houses a museum. The cathedral has a long history - it was originally a Christian church. Then it was rebuilt as part of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Constantinople. After the city surrendered to the Turks in 1453, it became a mosque. Much later this church was turned into a museum.
The construction of the church was completed in 537 under Emperor Julian the First, and for another thousand years it remained the largest church in the world. Today this church is the largest example of Byzantine art, a subject of study for many researchers from all over the world.
St. Peter's Basilica (Vatican)
Of course, we could not ignore the largest religious building in the world - St. Peter's Cathedral, which is the heart of all Christianity. The building is truly huge - it covers an area of more than two hectares and can accommodate up to 60,000 people at a time.
On the site of the present cathedral there was already a church built by the first emperor of Rome Constantine in 324 AD. That church stood for about 1200 years, until they decided to convert it into the largest cathedral. All the most prominent figures of the Renaissance Era took part in the construction. Michelangelo designed the dome, Jean Lorenzo Bernini designed the main square, and Donato Bromante was the first architect of the cathedral.
Notre Dame de Paris (France)
And, of course, we could not ignore this most important landmark of Paris - the quintessence of Gothic architecture. The construction of Notre Dame began in 1163, when Bishop Maurice de Sally decided to confirm his status with a more convenient church. The construction was completed much later - two hundred years later, but still the cathedral became one of the first truly large-scale European projects.
There are many amazing things about the cathedral. For example windows (the largest in the world at the time) that depict scenes from the Bible.
Many legends are associated with it. For example, according to one of them, the Emmanuel bell was cast in 1600 from the jewelry of women who threw them into a common cauldron to give the bell a unique sound.
But the cathedral gained its fame thanks to Victor Hugo, who wrote a novel about the Hunchback of Notre Dame, who fell in love with the beautiful dancer Esmeralda. The book's popularity has surpassed all expectations.
Hallgrímskirkja (Iceland)
This church with a difficult to pronounce name was built in Reykjavik between 1945 and 1986. With a height of 74.5 meters, it is the fourth tallest structure in all of Iceland and is located exactly in the center of the capital, so that it can be seen from all points of the city. Guðjón Samúelsson was appointed as the chief architect of the project.
The Icelandic Church (literal translation: Hallgrimur Church) got its strange name in honor of the poet and cleric Hallgrimur Petterson. The appearance reminds of geysers, of which there are a huge number in Iceland.
By the way, a description of about such towers can be found in Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings. It is known that the professor borrowed a lot from Icelandic mythology for his trilogy, it is possible that the architecture of such buildings is also mentioned in Old Icelandic myths.
Jubilee Church (Italy)
So far, we have only considered classical churches. Some are over a thousand years old, some are not even a hundred (and some are not completed at all), but they all have a more or less classic style. Of course, there are architects who break the canons and build Art Nouveau churches. One of these, Richard Meyer, built a church in Rome and not too hesitated to proclaim it "the project of the millennium" and "the pride of the crown of the Metropolitanate of Rome."
The effect of the unusual roof is obvious - during the rains, moisture accumulates on the roof, and then flows down in the form of a fountain.
Despite the controversial design, Notre Dame du Haut is considered one of Le Corbusier's most successful works.
Crystal Cathedral (USA)
It is difficult to say what will be the result of the attempt to combine traditional churches with modern trends in architecture. Strictly speaking, the "Crystal Cathedral" has nothing to do with either crystals or cathedrals. This is the most amazing Protestant Megachurch in Garden Grove, California.
The church is almost entirely made of glass, of which there are more than 12 thousand. The exterior is captivating - the cathedral is made in the form of a four-pointed crystalline star, but it is even more beautiful inside at this time, when sunlight penetrates through the glass and the sky is visible.
And the largest organ in the world is installed inside, in which there are more than 16 thousand pipes.
The most beautiful and unusual temples in the world. Part 1
At all times and in all cultures, people needed places where they could come to feel the universal grace and think about the eternal. Temples, cathedrals, churches and chapels are not only sacred places for religious people, but also a terrific tourist attraction. There are churches in almost all cities in the world, and most of them are distinguished by interesting and unusual architecture. I can imagine: the largest cathedrals, unique temples, beautiful churches ...
1. Cathedral of Las Lajas (Las Lajas Sanctuary)
In 1949, in Colombia, inside the canyon of the Guaitara River, the construction of a neo-Gothic cathedral was completed (started in 1916), which became a symbol of union and peace between the two Franciscan communities: Colombian and Ecuadorian. Las Lajas Cathedral is built directly on a thirty-meter arched bridge spanning a deep gorge. This allows two South American peoples to visit the temple and take care of its condition at once.A beautiful legend is connected with the building of the chapel about how a woman named Maria Musis carried her deaf-mute daughter Rosa on her back, but she suddenly asked (having spoken for the first time in her life) to stop in a nearby cave. There, Rose painted the Virgin Mary with her son on the wall of the cave. Later examinations could not establish either the paints or other substances with which the picture was painted. The only thing they could determine was that the stones were “soaked” in the painting several feet in depth. 
2. Hallgrímskirkja
The famous Lutheran church was proposed by the architect Guðjón Samúelsson in 1937. Following the approval of the plan, in the center of Rejavik, Iceland, construction began on the church, which continued for almost 38 years until 1974. Now the Lutheran Church is the fourth tallest building in Iceland.
Its height is 74.5 meters, and at the top of the tower there is an observation deck, which offers a panoramic view of Reykjavik. The church got its strange name in memory of the Icelandic poet Hallagrum Patterson. The shape of the church, according to the creators, should resemble the geysers, of which there are so many in Iceland.
By the way, a description of about such towers can be found in Tolkien's book "The Lord of the Rings". It is known that the professor borrowed a lot from Icelandic mythology for his trilogy, it is possible that the architecture of such buildings is also mentioned in ancient Icelandic myths. 
3. Saint Basil's Cathedral
One of the main sights of Russia is the Orthodox Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, located on Red Square in Moscow. It was built by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible in 1555-1561 in honor of the victory over the Kazan Khanate. Height: 60 m. The cathedral is named after the holy fool Vasily, who dared to tell Ivan the Terrible what he thinks about his tyranny. According to legend, the architect who designed this cathedral was subsequently blinded by the order of Ivan the Terrible so that he could never again create anything more beautiful.
St. Basil's Cathedral (currently the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos) has been the main attraction of Moscow for many years. In front of the cathedral, since 1931, there has been a bronze Monument to Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky (installed on Red Square in 1818). And probably for a long time foreigners will ask: "How to get on Red Square to St. Basil's Cathedral?" 
4. Temple of the Sagrada Família (Sagrada Família)
The cathedral in Barcelona has the full name Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia. Literally translated, it means "redemptive temple of the holy family." The construction of the cathedral began in 1882 and continues to this day. The original project was developed by Antoni Gaudi, who worked on the project for over forty years. When asked why the design took so long, he replied, "My client is in no rush."
The construction of the cathedral was interrupted by the 1936 civil war, when Catalan fanatics destroyed all models of Gaudí. Now construction continues in accordance with the few saved plans and modern developments. Construction is slated to end in 2026, but no one believes that. The project has long been dubbed "The Cathedral, which will never be completed." But now, thanks to its fabulous style and mysterious appearance, it has received the title of the most important city attraction. 
5. St. Peter's Basilica (Vatican)
It is the largest religious building in the world and is the heart of all Christianity. The building is truly huge - it covers an area of more than two hectares and can accommodate up to 60 thousand people at a time.
On the site of the modern cathedral there was already a church built by the first emperor of Rome Constantine in 324 AD. That church stood for about 1200 years, until they decided to convert it into the largest cathedral. All prominent figures of the Renaissance took part in the construction. Michelangelo designed the vaults, Jean Lorenzo Bernini designed the main square, and Donato Bromante was the first architect of the cathedral. 
6. Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris (France)
This is the most important landmark of Paris - the quintessence of Gothic architecture. Construction of Notre Dame began in 1163, when Bishop Maurice de Sally decided to confirm his status with a more convenient church. And it ended much later - two hundred years later, but still the cathedral became one of the first truly large-scale European projects. Year of construction: 1345; Height: 69 m.
There are many amazing things about the cathedral. For example, the windows (the largest in the world at the time) that depict scenes from the Bible.
There are many legends associated with the cathedral. For example, according to one of them, the Emmanuel bell was cast in 1600 from jewelry donated to the cathedral by women in order to receive a unique ringing. But the cathedral gained its fame thanks to Victor Hugo. The book's popularity has surpassed all expectations. 
7. Grundtvig's Church
The next Lutheran church to be discussed is in Copenhagen, Denmark. This magnificent construction, made in the style of expressionism, is one of the main attractions of the city. Peder Klint became the architect of the Grundtvig church. Construction lasted from 1921 to 1926.
8. Church of Solace
The Church of Consolation was built in the Spanish town of Cordoba. This church is still very young. It was designed in 2011 by an architectural bureau called Vicens + Ramos, according to all the canons of minimalism. Only the wall, located on the site of the altar, sparkles with gold, beating out of the strict white color of the structure.
9. Small Basilica of the Glorious Mother of God (Basílica Menor de Nossa Senhora da Glória)
The tallest Catholic cathedral in Latin America is the Lesser Basilica of Our Lady. Its height is 114 meters, plus a ten-meter cross at its top. Inspired by the views of Soviet satellites, Don Jaime Luis Coelho began to develop the project of the cathedral, however, the architect who implemented this project, as a result, became José Augusto Bellucci. The cathedral was built from 1959 to 1972.
10. Milan Cathedral
In the very center of Milan there is a magnificent Gothic cathedral. A multitude of pointed spiers, sculptures and statues, columns and turrets - all this is the white marble Cathedral of Milan. From any excursion in Milan in Russian, you will learn that the cathedral was built over five centuries and is still the fourth largest cathedral in the world. An impressive view of the city opens up from the roof of the cathedral. Inside the temple there is, revered by all residents, a golden statue of the patroness of Milan, and above the altar there is a nail, which, according to legend, was taken out of the cross on which Jesus was crucified.
This is one of the largest "long-term construction". The construction of the cathedral began in 1386; it was consecrated in 1417; began to function in 1572; in 1769, a 104-meter spire with a four-meter statue of the Madonna made of gilded bronze appeared; 135 marble needles, aiming at the sky and conveying the mood of Gothic architecture, were completed in the 19th century; and some design details were completed right up to 1956! 
11. Jubilee Church
The Jubilee Church or Church of the Merciful God the Father in Rome was built in 1996-2003 by the architect Richard Meier. Not too shy, he called it "the millennium project" and "the pride of the crown of the metropolis of Rome." Initially, the construction of the church was conceived to revitalize the life of the inhabitants of the city, but, over time, it became a real social center of Rome.
The jubilee church stands on a triangular site surrounded by high-rise residential buildings, which are home to about 30,000 people.
Three parallel arcs, according to the author's idea, symbolize the Holy Trinity, and the smooth mirror surface on which the church is located should resemble water, which is an important part of the baptismal ceremony. 
12. Church of Paraportiani
The snow-white church was built in the 15-17th centuries on the island of Mykonos, Greece. The temple consists of 5 churches, four of which are on the ground, and the fifth is based on them.
13. Borgund Stave Church
Location: Lardal, Norway (Lardal, Norway). Year of construction: 1180; Height: 37 m.
The headquarters in Borgunn was built in 1150-1180 in Norway. This is one of the oldest wooden churches that have come down to us in their original form. Borgund Headquarters was created without the use of metal parts. At first, the frame of the racks was assembled on the ground, and only then it was lifted up with the help of long poles. 
14. St. Joseph the Betrothed Church
St. Joseph Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Chicago, Illinois, USA, was built in 1956. It is known all over the world for its thirteen modern golden domes, symbolizing the twelve apostles and Jesus Christ in the center.
15. Cathedral of Our Lady of Tears (Santuario della Madonna delle Lacrime)
According to legend, in the middle of the last century, on the place where the cathedral now stands, there lived a religious married couple who had a small statuette of the Madonna. One day, Madonna began to "cry" with real human tears. Pilgrims who believed in this, from all over the world rushed to the city to see this miracle. It was in his honor, in the small Italian town of Syracuse, that this cathedral was built.
16. Notre Dame du Haut
The Catholic Church of Notre Dame du Eau was built in 1950-1955 in the city of Ronchamp, France. Its architect, Le Corbusier, without being particularly religious, took on this project on the condition that his creative expression would not be limited by the clergy. At first, this building caused great indignation among local residents. They even refused to supply electricity and water to the temple. However, over time, this temple gained such popularity among tourists that it stopped needing "alms" from citizens and, moreover, became one of the main sources of income for the Ronshans themselves.
This extravagant project is vaguely reminiscent of Elvis Presley's hairstyle. However, this chapel is more famous than the village in which it is located, therefore, for brevity, this Notre Dame is called Ronchamp. The effect that an unusual roof creates is obvious - during rains, moisture accumulates on the roof, and then flows down like a fountain.
Despite the controversial design, Notre Dame du Haut is considered one of Le Corbusier's most successful works. 
17.Cadet Chapel of the US Air Force Academy (Cadet Chapel)
This majestic structure is located in the state of Colorado, USA on the territory of a training base and a military camp of one of the branches of the Air Force Pilot Academy. The Cadet Chapel was built in 1962 by the famous architect Walter Netch. The modernist chapel consists of seventeen rows of steel frames with lances at the end. Services of the Protestant, Catholic and Jewish denominations are held in three chapel halls.
18. Arctic Cathedral
In 1965, the amazingly beautiful Arctic Cathedral was built in the Norwegian town of Tromsø. It consists of two merging triangular structures covered with white metal plates, thanks to which the cathedral is associated with a huge iceberg. This was the original idea of Jan Inge Hovig, the architect of the Arctic Cathedral.
19. Painted Arbore Church
Magnificent painted temples are one of the main architectural sights of Moldova. All these churches are decorated with picturesque frescoes both inside and outside. Thanks to this unique phenomenon, each of the structures is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. All painted churches in Moldova were built in the period from 1522-1547.
20. Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Cathedral of Brasília)
The Catholic Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in Brazil between 1958-1970 by the famous architect Oscar Niemeyer. It consists of sixteen hyperboloid columns, symbolizing hands raised to the sky. The entire space between these columns is covered with picturesque stained-glass windows. For the design of the cathedral, in 1988, Oscar Niemeyer received the Pritzker Prize for the best structure, made in the style of modernism.
21. Church of Saint George
In the Ethiopian town of Lalibela in the 13th century, by order of the king, an amazing church was created. According to legend, this miracle took 24 years to build. The Church of St. George is a cross 25 by 25 meters, completely carved into the rocks. In total, there are 11 temples in the town of Lalibela, carved into the rocks and connected by underground tunnels.
22.Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá
The Zipaquira Salt Cathedral, located in Colombia, was carved into a solid rock of salt. The height of the cathedral is 23 meters, and the capacity is over 10 thousand people. Many years ago, this place was a mine used by the Indians to extract salt. When the need for it disappeared, a temple was built on the site of the mine.
23. St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery
Tradition attributes the foundation of the monastery to the first Kiev Metropolitan Michael. This magnificent monastery is one of the oldest in Kiev. It includes a bell tower, a refectory with the Church of St. John the Evangelist and the recently built St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral. It is assumed that it was the Mikhailovsky Cathedral that became the first temple in Russia with a gilded top, which gave rise to such a peculiar tradition of decorating temples.
24. Hagia Sophia Cathedral (Turkey)
Technically, Hagia Sophia (from Greek - Church of the Holy Wisdom of God) is no longer a church, now a museum is located in this Istanbul building. The cathedral has a long history - it was originally a Christian church. Then it was rebuilt as part of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Constantinople. Height: 55 m.
On May 30, 1453, Sultan Mehmed II turned the cathedral into a mosque. Thanks to this, when in 1935, according to the decree of Ataturk, Hagia Sophia became a museum, the restorers discovered that most of the frescoes were not only preserved under a layer of plaster, they were perfectly preserved, being essentially "mothballed"! Such is the story of how Islam preserved the Christian shrine.
The construction of the church was completed in 537 under Emperor Julian I, and for another thousand years it remained the largest church in the world. Today this church is an example of Byzantine art, a subject of study for many researchers from all over the world. The symbol of the Golden Age of Byzantium was rebuilt several times after the fires and changed several roles during its life. At first, the temple was one of the main ones in Christianity, then, on July 16, 1054, it was here that the separation of the Orthodox and Catholic churches took place. In 1204, the crusaders stole the shroud from the temple, which was kept here - today we know it as the Turin Shroud. 
Part of the painting in St. Sophia Cathedral (on the fresco - John the Baptist)
25. The Crystal Cathedral, USA
It is difficult to say what will be the result of the attempt to combine traditional churches with modern trends in architecture. "Crystalline Cathedral" has nothing to do with either crystals or a cathedral. This is an amazing Protestant megachurch in Garden Grove, California.
The church is almost entirely made of glass fragments, of which there are more than 12 thousand. The exterior is impressive - the cathedral is made in the form of a quadrangular crystalline star, but inside is even more beautiful when sunlight penetrates through the glass and the sky is visible.
And also the largest organ in the world is installed inside, in which there are more than 16 thousand pipes. 
