A message about a famous temple. The most beautiful temples in the world - places of spiritual power

The most unusual churches in Russia.

Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Burning Bush" in the town of Dyatkovo

This temple was called the eighth wonder of the world, because nowhere in the world there are such iconostases as in the neopalimov church in the city of Dyatkovo, Bryansk region. The entire iconostasis of this temple is made of crystal. In 1810 it was built by the owner of the local crystal factory Maltsov. Not only the heavy, graceful work of the crystal iconostasis, "as if floating in the air," but also crystal chandeliers and chandeliers, unique candlesticks made of multi-layer and multi-colored glass with a height of a man's height adorned the church until 1929. The amazing temple was destroyed, but some parts of its decoration were hidden in the Dyatkovo museum.

In 1990, the destroyed temple was rebuilt, and local glassblowers, using the surviving drawings from 200 years ago, made thousands of parts for its decoration for more than a year. The restoration of the iconostasis required several tons of crystal, and not simple, but alloyed with lead - such an alloy is used to make the most expensive dishes.
The Neopalimov temple inside seems both icy and iridescent: mirrors are placed under the crystal plates on the walls, which gives the effect of an iridescent glow.

Arkhyz churches

Arkhyz temples are the most ancient or one of the most ancient in Russia. They are dated to the end of the 9th - beginning of the 10th century. Scientists believe that it was here, in the area of ​​the ancient settlement of Magas, that the capital of the patriarchate of ancient Alania was. Alans finally joined Christianity in the first quarter of the 10th century, but its penetration here began much earlier. Written sources mention this since the second half of the 7th century.
Three medieval temples have survived on the territory of the settlement - North, Middle and South. During excavations by archaeologist V.A. Kuznetsov found even the only ancient baptismal church in the North Caucasus, built of flat stone slabs. The walls of the temple were covered with frescoes skillfully made by Byzantine masters - this is evidenced by the drawings of the artist and archaeologist D.M. Strukov, made at the end of the 19th century.
Even the acoustics are well thought out in the Middle Church: there is a system of voices - through and blind holes in the walls of the temple.
The southern temple of this settlement is now the oldest active Orthodox church in Russia. In a rock grotto not far from this temple, the face of Christ was discovered, manifested on a stone.

Temple in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on the Blue Stones in Yekaterinburg

On an ordinary Yekaterinburg Khrushchev building, a child's hand draws a bell tower and a boy on it. The Apostle Paul's "Hymn of Love" written in Slavic script stretches along the wall. Chapter 13, Epistle to the Corinthians ... You will come closer, guided by the words of love, and read the inscription: "Heaven on earth." This is how easy it is that even children can begin to comprehend Christian wisdom. This temple has no high ceilings with rotundas and domes, a narrow corridor leads inside, and shelves with books stand right along the church walls. But it is always full of children and there are many of their own traditions: for example, to conduct role-playing games, drink tea with the whole parish after the Sunday liturgy, sing with the choir or paint "good graffiti". And baptismal water is sometimes "sold" here for knowledge of the first commandment or its immediate study. The parish publishes the newspaper "Revived Stones", and the site of the temple lives a life filled with creativity.

Church of the Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dubrovitsy

A mysterious church with a mysterious history, the only temple in Russia, which is crowned not with a dome, but with a golden crown. The construction of the Church of the Sign refers to the times when the Dubrovitsy estate was owned by the educator of Peter I, Prince Boris Alekseevich Golitsyn. By the way, Peter I himself and his son Tsarevich Alexei attended the consecration of this temple. This church does not look like a Russian one, it was built in the Rococo style, which is rare for our lands, and is very richly decorated with round sculptures of white stone and stucco. They say that it looks especially impressive in winter, when the landscape around is emphasized by Russian.
In 1812, the temple was occupied by Napoleonic troops, without causing any damage, however. But in the twentieth century, this temple was also closed.
In 1929 the temple was closed for worship; in September 1931, the bell tower and the church of Adrian and Natalia located in it were blown up.
The history of the inscriptions inside the temple is interesting. Initially, they were made in Latin, later, at the request of Metropolitan Filaret (Drozdov), they were replaced by Church Slavonic ones. And in 2004, during the restoration, the temple again "spoke" in Latin.

Temple carriage in Nizhny Novgorod

An Orthodox church, almost opposite in its idea, emerged in Nizhny Novgorod in 2005. The temple surprises, not trying to surprise, because it is located in ... a railway carriage. This is a temporary structure: parishioners are waiting for the construction of a stone church. It all started with a gift: the railway workers presented a carriage to the Nizhny Novgorod diocese. And the diocese decided to equip it as a church: the car was fixed, steps with a porch were made, a dome, a cross were installed, and on December 19, 2005, on the day of memory of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, they were consecrated. The people call this unusual temple the “blue carriage” after the children's song of the same name, and “Soul train” in the English manner. The symbolism of a train, a carriage, and therefore a track, has been inherent in the Christian church since ancient times. From early times, temples were built in the image of ships - in this sense, the Nizhny Novgorod temple continues Byzantine traditions! It is worth noting that this is not the only, but the most famous wagon temple in Russia.

Kostomarovsky Spassky Convent

The oldest cave monastery in Russia with "divas" - chalk pillars, inside which are built monastery cloisters. The bell tower of the Spassky Church was built between two such divas and literally soars in the air. Inside, in the thickness of the chalk mountain, the temple is so large that it can accommodate two thousand people. It is here that the famous throughout Russia "cave of repentance" is located - a corridor that stretches 220 meters underground and gradually narrows. It is known that before the revolution the most ossified sinners were sent here to “correct the mind”. The movement itself through the cave sets one up for confession: the penitent makes a long journey in the dark, holding a lighted candle, the vault of the cave becomes lower and lower, and the person bows down. Pilgrims say they feel as if someone's hand is gradually bowing their head, subduing human pride. Even in our days, visitors to the "cave of repentance" are not accompanied to the end: a person is left to walk alone part of the way.

Trinity Church "Kulich and Easter" in St. Petersburg

This nickname of the church was not invented by witty Petersburgers - the customer of the construction himself, Prosecutor General A.A. Vyazemsky asked the architect to build the temple in the form of traditional Easter dishes. Both buildings are crowned with "apples" with a cross. Due to the fact that there is no drum on the dome of the "Easter cake", it becomes dark in the altar part of the church. The play of light and the blue "heavenly" dome change the sense of volume, so the inside of the temple seems much more spacious than outside.
In the lower part of the bell tower - "Easter" there is a baptistery, which has only two small windows at the top on the walls. But right above the baptized one there are bells, the sound of which spreads through the arches cut in the wall. The thickness of the walls increases downward as the wall tilts. On the outside of the belfry, above the bells, there are painted dials, each of which “shows” a different time. By the way, A.V. was baptized in this church. Kolchak, the future admiral.

At all times, believers needed special places for prayer and communication with higher powers. Therefore, beautiful and majestic temples, many of which were founded more than one century ago, were built by adherents of almost all religions. These unique architectural monuments symbolize the detachment of a person from the mundane and mortal and allow in solitude to focus on communication with God, regardless of whether they call him Jesus Christ, Allah or Buddha.

Cathedrals and churches of Europe as a symbol of ancient history

Going to any of the famous European cathedrals, you will feel the true breath of history and feel the special energy of these holy places. The most interesting of them are:

This is a unique example of the Flaming Gothic architectural style, which was created using white marble. The temple makes an unforgettable impression on inexperienced tourists due to its resemblance to a feudal castle and elements of a fabulous decor: numerous pointed turrets, spiers, columns.

This Lutheran cathedral is located in the country's capital, Reykjavik. If you go up to the upper platform, the whole city will be in front of you at a glance. The attraction of the church is a giant organ 15 m high. The building was erected in the neo-Gothic style and, according to the architect's idea, should symbolize a volcanic eruption.

It is located on the only island in the country, so you can only get to it by boat. To enter the temple itself, you have to climb 99 steps. As conceived by the creators of the temple, such obstacles symbolize a long and thorny path to the Creator and spiritual cleansing. According to the legend, immortalized in the work of the Slovenian poet Preshern, there was once a sanctuary on this site dedicated to the goddess of love.

The cathedral is considered one of the few designed in the Art Nouveau style, and has been under construction for almost a century and a half: since the 1880s of the XIX century. The famous brainchild of the architect Antoni Gaudi impresses with its monumentality. As conceived by the creators, the structure should have the shape of a Latin cross and be crowned with 18 bell towers, as if they came from a medieval legend and resembled sand castles.

It is a true masterpiece of Russian wooden architecture, since the 37 m high building was erected without a single nail.

The most unusual and mysterious churches in the world

Some temples are absolutely different from the classical cathedrals, known to us from childhood. A special atmosphere has been created inside them, where the striving for perfection and comprehension of God is organically combined with the tendencies of modern life. These include:

The original structure looks somewhat futuristic and resembles a huge ark or beehive. The facades made of spruce laths, which are treated with wax, add similarities to the dwelling of bees. Inside are simple ash wood furnishings and a silver altar, a marvel of contemporary art. Services are not held here, but if you want to open your heart to God, pray, be alone or talk with a priest, there is no better place to find.

The temple is considered one of the most successful examples of the modern postmodern architectural style. The height of the building is 10 m, but its "highlight" is completely different: it is entirely built of horizontal steel plates arranged in a special way. Therefore, depending on the viewing angle, the walls of the church seem to be solid, then patterned, like openwork lace. Thanks to a unique optical illusion, the temple appears to be floating in air currents.

This Catholic church would be no different from others if it were not for a solid green ivy cover that completely covers the façade. Most believers associate it with the biblical Garden of Gethsemane.

The history of one of the tallest domed religious buildings in the world began in the distant 18th century. The height of the church exceeds 100 m, and the porticoes of 8 columns, decorated with bas-reliefs and sculptural compositions, give it a similarity to the ancient Greek sanctuary. The visiting card of the temple is a gilded dome on a drum. The interior decoration of white, yellow and green marble, porphyry and jasper, as well as the painting by the famous painter Bryullov and his colleagues, make the decoration of the church truly luxurious.

Churches of the East and Asia - the mysterious flavor of the exotic

Mosques and Buddhist temples, thanks to the quirkiness of their architectural details, awaken the imagination and make you remember fairy tales. The unusual energy of such places, according to rumors, is even able to heal diseases. The most unusual mosques, temples, and prayer churches in Asia and the Middle East are:

It belongs to the Buddhist confession and is located at an altitude of more than 3 thousand at sea level, so only the most courageous travelers will get to it. The name of the temple translates as "tigress's nest" and is associated with an ancient legend. In accordance with it, one of the famous Buddhist teachers was transported to one of the caves on the territory of the monastery on his wife, who turned into a tigress.

This is one of the most grandiose Muslim religious buildings, where up to 40 thousand believers can gather for prayer at the same time. The huge area of ​​the mosque includes more than 80 domes and a thousand pillars. The most interesting attraction here is the giant carpet included in the Guinness Book of Records.

It is open to people of all faiths, and there is no provision for religious ceremonies. You will be able to appreciate all the unsurpassed beauty of the building, built in the shape of a blossoming lotus of snow-white marble.

It is one of the few surviving baroque temples in the world with beautiful side buttresses. It looks quite impressive thanks to the coral and stone blocks used in the construction.

Religion occupies the most important place in the life and history of mankind. It is not surprising that religious monuments have always been distinguished by their beauty and scope. Temples and churches, mosques and cathedrals, chapels and synagogues - no matter what religion they profess - they are all architectural landmarks, interesting for their centuries-old history or modern ideas. Most of them are included in the lists of world cultural heritage and are protected by the state. It is the temples that are in any city in the world that primarily attract the attention of tourists. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the most beautiful and most impressive temples in the world.

1. Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Israel

One of the greatest and most beautiful shrines for the entire Christian world is the Jerusalem Church of the Resurrection of Christ, better known as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, Israel. It is here that every year, during the bright holiday of Easter, the miracle of the Descent of the Holy Fire takes place, which is transported to all corners of the globe. According to legend, the temple was built on the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ. Today it is a large complex containing many Christian relics, for example, the anointing stone, the cave of the Holy Sepulcher, the burial bed, Golgotha ​​and many others. Inside, the temple is divided between numerous denominations: Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Syrian, Coptic and Ethiopian. Liturgies on the Holy Sepulcher are served in turn, and the keys to the temple are kept in a Muslim family in order to avoid conflicts between confessions.

2. Hagia Sophia, Turkey

Hagia Sophia - the Wisdom of God is an old Orthodox church in Istanbul, Turkey. The church is a world famous architectural monument of Byzantine architecture, at one time it was both a mosque and an Orthodox church, and today there is a museum inside. The first church on the site of the modern cathedral was built at the beginning of the 4th century during the reign of Emperor Constantine. The temple that we see today was built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, its construction absorbed three annual incomes of the entire (!) Byzantine Empire, and for many centuries it remained the largest church in the world. The appearance of the temple is still striking in its scale, and the interior decoration - luxury and wealth. In addition to Orthodox images, here you can find quotes from the Koran, as well as runic inscriptions.

3. Notre Dame de Paris, France

Notre Dame Cathedral or Notre Dame de Paris is one of the most ancient monuments of religious architecture. The location of the temple on the Ile de la Cité in Paris is by no means accidental. In ancient times, there was a pagan temple of Jupiter, later - the first Christian church in the city - the Basilica of St. Stephen, and in 1163 the construction of Notre Dame Cathedral began, which lasted more than 200 years. The main architectural style of the temple is Gothic, however, the towers are very different in their appearance, this is due to the participation of many architects in the construction. The cathedral contains the greatest Christian relic - the Crown of Thorns of Jesus Christ - brought here from Jerusalem. There are no paintings on the walls inside, but the largest colored stained glass windows at the time of construction illustrate scenes from the Bible. An interesting legend is the story of the casting of the Emmanuelle bell weighing 13 tons: it was created from melted women's jewelry. The famous book by Victor Hugo about the Hunchback of Notre Dame and the beautiful Esmeralda brought particular popularity to the cathedral.

4. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican

The Cathedral or Basilica of St. Peter is considered the largest Christian church in the world, capable of accommodating up to 60 thousand people at a time. It is also the central and largest structure of the Vatican. In 324 A.D. on the site of the cathedral, a church was built by Emperor Constantine, which stood for about 1200 years. In 1506, it was decided to transform the church into the largest Christian cathedral. The most prominent artists and architects of the Renaissance took part in this: Bramante was the first architect, after his death the construction work was headed by Raphael; Michelangelo designed the dome and vaults of the cathedral, while Bernini designed the main square. The interior of the cathedral is striking in its harmony and beauty: there are many statues and sculptures, tombstones and altars, wonderful works of art.

5. Church of Paraportiani, Greece

The inhabitants of the island of Mykonos in Greece claim that there are exactly 365 churches on its territory - one for every day of the year, and the most beautiful is the Paraportiani Church, the construction of which dates back to the 15-17 centuries. The snow-white structure, which has survived to this day, looks especially impressive against the background of the azure of the sea and the bottomless blue of the sky. The temple consists of four churches with their foundations on the ground. And the fifth church is located on the next floor above them. The temple was built of stone, strictly adhering to the canons of Byzantine architecture. The absence of external decorations gives it a certain severity and special holiness. Rumor has it that the beautiful streamlined shape of this particular church inspired the great Gaudi to create his famous masterpieces.

6. Sagrada Familia, Spain

By the way, about Antonio Gaudi. The magnificent Atonement Temple of the Sagrada Familia or Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, ​​Spain, designed by the great Spanish architect, is considered one of the landmarks of this country. The construction of the temple lasted 40 years under the leadership of Gaudi, and has not been completed to this day. According to one of the versions, the initiators of the construction made it a condition that the temple was built exclusively on donations from parishioners. Modern craftsmen assume that the construction work will be fully completed by 2026, but the local population called the church "The Cathedral that will never be completed." The plan of the temple is made in the form of a Latin cross, the facade is decorated with sayings from the Bible, and such a long construction of the temple is also explained by the duration of the manufacture of stone blocks, which form the bizarre forms of the church.

7. Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, Russia

The most beautiful Orthodox church on Red Square in Moscow is named after the holy fool Vasily, who dared to express his dissatisfaction with his rule to the great Tsar Ivan the Terrible. Another well-known name is also the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God, and until the 17th century the temple was called Trinity. The cathedral was built in the middle of the 16th century, according to legend, the architect who built it was blinded by the order of Ivan the Terrible, so as never to create anything more beautiful. The temple is considered a visiting card of Moscow and all of Russia; it is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. Today, there is a branch of the State Historical Museum inside. The height of the cathedral is 65 meters, and the total number of domes is 11.

8. Las Lajas, Colombia

The Catholic Cathedral Las Lajas is located in the department of Nariño, Colombia, and is one of the most visited cathedrals in the country, not only by church members, but also by numerous tourists. The church was built directly on the bridge over the Guaitara River. The construction of the cathedral dates back to 1916-1949, and the main architectural style of construction is neo-Gothic. A beautiful legend is connected with the construction of the cathedral: there was a cave here, which was notoriously famous among the local population. Once a mother with a deaf-mute daughter passed through it, and a miracle happened: the Mother of God healed the sick girl, and her mother Maria, as a token of gratitude, painted a beautiful portrait of the Mother of God on the walls of the cave. By the way, experts still cannot determine what kind of paint was applied to the walls of the temple. The only thing that could be found out was that the stones were soaked in paint through and through.

9. Taj Mahal, India

In addition to Christian religious monuments, it is worth mentioning the masterpieces of architecture related to the Muslim world. One of these is the Taj Mahal mausoleum-mosque in Agra, India. It was built in the 17th century by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The mausoleum-mosque is considered the most outstanding example of Mughal architecture, combining elements of Islamic, Persian and Indian styles. The Taj Mahal is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List and represents not only the mausoleum itself, but also the whole complex around it. In the construction, translucent marble was used, which makes the mosque colorful at different times of the day, as well as the most beautiful inlays of gems - turquoise, agate, carnelian, malachite and others.

10. Crystal Cathedral, USA

The most valuable from the point of view of architectural sights are ancient churches and cathedrals, amazingly preserved to this day. However, we cannot fail to mention the modern attempt to combine the latest trends with religion. The result of this can be considered the Crystal Cathedral in California, USA, built in the late 80s of the 20th century. This Protestant church of stunning size is almost entirely made of glass blocks, of which there are more than 10 thousand. The exterior of the church is a four-pointed crystal star, but most of all the cathedral is striking from the inside, especially when the sun's rays penetrate through the glass. One of the special attractions of the church is a huge organ with 16 thousand pipes, and the room itself can accommodate about 3 thousand parishioners.

Beautiful temples are not only religious. They are remarkable for their amazing beauty and originality, they are real masterpieces of architecture. These structures amaze others with their majestic and divine appearance. Their variety and interesting design is a real delight. This list includes only the most beautiful temples in the world, which deserve the attention of every connoisseur of fine architecture.

1. Cathedral Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia can worthily 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 Antoni Gaudi. The bizarre shapes and architectural reliefs of the building delight local residents and tourists alike. 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. Being inside the Sagrada Familia temple, you can feel the whole atmosphere of the Bible time.

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 the Russian style with the use of Italian marble and other semi-precious stones. The decor is made in a theatrical style, which makes the church look like a carved box made 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 give originality and uniqueness. The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood can be confidently 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 look. Historians rightfully call it a monument of world importance.

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 facade is decorated with a statue of the Mother of God with a baby in her arms and a delicate lily flower. Particular attention is drawn to the old watches, the hands of which move in the opposite direction.

4. Crystal Mosque

Included in the top ten most beautiful temples in the world Crystal mosque in Malaysia. It consists of various minarets in the form of neat structures covered with mirrored glass. Due to this, in the daytime, the mosque shimmers in the sun's 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 very much appreciated not only by locals, but also by tourists.

5. Notre Dame de Paris

In the very heart of France, there is a well-known beautiful Catholic church called Notre Dame de Paris... In the process of its construction, the Romanesque and Gothic styles were used, harmoniously filling the atmosphere with grace and monumentality. The interior design of the premises is so magnificent that in the past, royal weddings, luxurious funeral ceremonies, as well as imperial coronations were often held here. It is in this cathedral that the Crown of Thorns of Jesus Christ has been kept for many years, which is a great relic of Christians. The territory of this temple can simultaneously accommodate 9 thousand parishioners.

6. Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque Is 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 from the beautiful blue finish. Currently, the building surprises with its scale, as well as 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 are dominated by white, blue and blue. The walls of the temple are decorated with handmade ceramic tiles, which are perfectly combined with lamps and carpets. Each dome is painted with quotes taken from the Koran. The presence of a large number of windows makes the mosque light and cozy.

7. Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed

St. Basil's Cathedral- the most famous and beautiful temple in 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 features eight different churches with beautiful onion-shaped domes. There is even a legend that Ivan the Terrible, after the completion of the construction, deprived the masters of their sight, so that they would not have the opportunity to create another such masterpiece.

8. Golden Temple in Amritsar

It could not fail to enter the top 10 most beautiful temples and this structure, which is considered the main shrine of India. Oldest Golden temple was erected in the "lake of immortality", which was chosen by Ram Das himself. One day he had a vision in which he looked at a temple flickering with lights, and then decided to translate it into reality. People come here to cleanse themselves from sins and draw closer to God. The exterior of the beautiful temple resembles a white and gold lotus flower, as the top of the building is covered in gold and the bottom is marble.

9. Akshardham temple

An incredibly beautiful temple called Akshardham is a large-scale complex, which is not only religious in nature, but also scientific and cultural. Here is the temple itself, a large garden, and a research center. The main decoration of Akshardham is the gilded statue of God Shvaminarayana, which is two meters high. In the garden you can see a beautiful waterfall, a lake and attractions, which gives the atmosphere a certain modernity and comfort. In the research center, you can visit the library, the historical archive and the section for teaching. In addition, there are several interesting exhibitions on the subject of India on its territory. Nearly two million tourists come here annually to see all the features of this attraction.

10. Milan Cathedral

Temples are architectural structures that are intended for the performance of religious rituals and worship. However, we can say that the significance of temples is often much wider than the ritual functions they perform and the embodied religious ideas.

The first temples of the world appeared in ancient times and not only as religious buildings - they reflected the search for God inherent in man. Throughout human history, they have been an integral part of the city's landscape, and many of them have gained such fame that they have become symbols.

Temples of the Ancient World

The very first temples in Ancient Egypt that are known to modern science were built in the fourth millennium BC. They were shaped like reed huts. The last of the completed temples is in Philae. It was no longer used for its intended purpose only in the 6th century.

Karnak

One of the main attractions of Egypt is the badly destroyed Karnak. It is recognized as the largest ancient temple in the world. The structure is the creation of many generations of Egyptian builders.

Karnak Temple consists of three buildings - small closed buildings and several external ones, located north of Luxor (2.5 km). It took several thousand years to build and organize the strengthening of the majestic Karnak Temple. However, the bulk of the work at Karnak was carried out by the pharaohs of the New Kingdom. The most famous structure in Karnak is considered to be the Hypostyle Hall, which has an area of ​​50 thousand square meters. It has 134 massive columns that are arranged in 16 rows.

Temples of Abu Simbel

Temples of the world are sometimes striking in their uniqueness. For example, the temples (double) of Abu Simbel were carved into the slopes of the mountain. This happened during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses the Great in the 13th century BC. NS. The temples have become an eternal monument to Ramses and his queen Nefertari.

Temple of Edfu

Temples of the world were often built and dedicated to the gods. So the temple of Edfu was built in honor of the God Falcon Horus. It is the second largest temple in Egypt after Karnak and one of the best preserved. Construction began in 237 BC. NS. In those days, Ptolemy III was in power. The work was completed two centuries later (in 57 BC). The structure is composed of traditional elements of Egyptian temples, as well as several Greek elements, for example, Mammisi (birth houses).

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Orthodox churches of the world were built in different countries. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built on Mount Calvary, the site of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here he was martyred.

It was founded by the mother of Emperor Constantine, Helen, in 335. Once she found in the underground chambers of the temple of Venus, which had previously stood on this place, a cave with the Holy Sepulcher and the Cross on which Jesus was crucified. There is a legend that three absolutely identical crosses were found in the dungeon at once. In order to find out which of them is real, Elena in turn touched them to the Coffin with the body of the deceased. When the real Cross touched him, a miracle happened - the deceased was resurrected.

Saint Isaac's Cathedral

The most beautiful temples in the world are admired not only by parishioners. The tourists who visit them are also delighted with the beautiful structures. The majestic St. Isaac's Cathedral is a striking example of Russian religious architecture. Many experts are sure that this is one of the most beautiful domed buildings in the world. It is located in our Northern capital. The temple can accommodate up to 12 thousand people at a time. Previously, people used to come here for divine services, but now they are mostly tourists. The temple received the status of a history and art museum in 1937.

The diameter of the outer dome of the temple is twenty-five meters. More than one hundred kilograms were spent to cover the central one, as well as the domes on the bell towers. A hundred meters high colonnade above the dome offers a striking view of the city center and the banks of the Neva.

The largest temples

Christian churches of the world are distinguished by their architectural styles, interior decoration, and the presence of certain shrines. Nevertheless, they are all priceless monuments of history and architecture.

The most magnificent religious building in our country is the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, located in Moscow. Initially, the temple was built according to the project of Ton. Its construction began in 1839. Unfortunately, in 1931 the temple, like many cathedrals and churches in our country, was destroyed, and it was rebuilt in 1997.

The height of the temple is 105 meters. The structure has the shape of an equilateral cross (85 m wide). The temple can simultaneously accommodate 10 thousand people. The interior decoration is impressive with luxury, which was borrowed from the Byzantine religion (Orthodox).

Saint Paul's Cathedral

Famous temples of the world are places of pilgrimage. This fully applies to the Cathedral of St. Peter - the largest temple in the Vatican. It is believed to be the largest temple in the world. Its length is 212 meters, width - 150 m, occupied area - more than 22 thousand m 2. Height with a cross on the dome is 136 meters. The cathedral can simultaneously accommodate about 60 thousand people.

The temple was erected in the 16th century by such great masters as Raphael, Michelangelo, a magnificent structure for more than five centuries. Previously, there was a circus on this site, in which, in the time of Nero, Christians were tortured and put to a terrible death. He was also brought here and asked to be executed differently from Christ, and he was crucified with his head down.

Three centuries later, Emperor Constantine ordered to build a basilica here in honor of St. Peter, and in 1452 Nicholas V (Pope) began construction of the cathedral. The temple was built for 120 years. In 1667, J. designed the square in front of the cathedral, which accommodates all believers who wish to receive a blessing.

St. Peter's Basilica is the prototype for the creation of many large churches in the world, for example, Dame de la Pé in the city of Yamoussoukro. It was built in 1989. The construction area is 30 thousand square meters. It accommodates 20 thousand people. In addition, the cathedral served as a model for the Church of St. Paul (London). The dimensions of the building are 170 x 90 m. The author of the project is the architect Christopher Wren.

Temples of Peace: Forbidden Mosque

This is the main shrine of the Muslim world. There is the Kaaba in her yard. The mosque was built in 638. According to the decree of the King of Saudi Arabia, the reconstruction of the mosque has been carried out since 2007.

In the course of construction work in the northern direction, the territory increased to 400 thousand square meters. The mosque now seats 1.12 million parishioners. But two minarets are still under construction. Given the territory, the ceremonies held here will be able to participate in two and a half million people at the same time.

The most beautiful temples

Of course, for true believers, the most beautiful churches are located in their cities, where they attend services. Nevertheless, there are cathedrals in the world that are admired by all people on our planet. We will tell you about some of them.

Notre dame cathedral

The location of this cathedral on (Paris) is not accidental. In ancient times, there was a pagan temple of Jupiter, then - the first Christian church in Paris (St. Stephen's Basilica). The construction of the cathedral began in 1163. It lasted for over two hundred years.

The temple is made mainly in the Gothic style, but the towers differ greatly in their appearance. This is due to the fact that different architects took part in the work.

One of the most important Christian relics - Christ, who was transported here from Jerusalem, is carefully preserved in the cathedral. There is no traditional wall painting inside the cathedral. But the huge stained-glass windows on the windows illustrate biblical scenes. There is a legend that the famous Emmanuelle bell weighing 13 tons was cast from women's jewelry.

Sagrada Familia

This cathedral is located in Barcelona (Spain). The construction of the grandiose structure lasted more than forty years under the supervision and to date it has not been completed.

This is due to the fact that the initiators of the construction set a condition: the temple should be built only on donations from the parishioners. Modern experts believe that construction will be completed in 2026. The temple has the shape of a Latin cross, the facade is decorated with sayings from the Bible.

St. Basil's Cathedral

The magnificent Orthodox church is located in Moscow, on Red Square. It is named after Vasily (the holy fool), who dared to voice his dissatisfaction with the rule of Tsar Ivan the Terrible.

The temple was called Troitsky until the 17th century. It was built in the middle of the 16th century. As the legend says, Ivan the Terrible ordered to blind the architect so that in the future he would never be able to create something like that. For several centuries, the temple has been the hallmark of not only the capital, but the whole of Russia. Today it is included in the UNESCO heritage list. Today there is a branch of the Historical Museum.