Most Beautiful Churches

[TheLostCoin]

I decided to start a thread to Churches - no matter what cultural tradition - which are really beautiful and direct one's soul towards God based on how beautiful they are.

To start off with, I'll post my favorite, Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, France. For the longest time, this was the home of Christ's Crown of Thorns, purchased by the French Monarchy from the Byzantine Empire.

 

[TheLostCoin]

Saint Isaac's Cathedral in Saint Petersburg, Russia

 

[abysmul]

He brought the healing touch of Jesus into a North Korean prison | God Reports

 

[“Paisios”]

I’ve always found the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal, Canada very beautiful:

La Basilique: une oeuvre d'art - La Basilique Notre-Dame

 

[“Paisios”]

He brought the healing touch of Jesus into a North Korean prison | God Reports

Wonderful!

 

[☦Marius☦]

Church of Christ the Savior on Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg

Church of the Kazan Icon, St. Petersburg

Catholicon of Vatopedi, Mt Athos Greece

Monastery of Pantanessa, Greece

Monastery of St. Anthony's, Arizona USA

Monastery of Transfiguration, Mt Tabor

 

[☦Marius☦]

 

[☦Marius☦]

Jordanville Monastery, New York

Cathedral of the Mother of God "Joy of all who sorrow" USA

 

[TheLostCoin]

Cologne Cathedral

 

[TheLostCoin]

Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy

This was built when Ravenna was under Byzantine rule in the 6th century.

 

[dzheremi]

It's a different kind of beauty, but I have always been struck by the Monastery/Church complex of St. Simon the Tanner and the associated caves, in Cairo (in the district where the 'zabaleen' garbage pickers live; the lowest of society, socially and economically). The fact that it is carved into a mountain is impressive in itself, but then you see how it has afforded them the chance to make many reliefs that are unlike anything else you're likely to find in Egypt (3D art not being a feature of Coptic churches). Just the idea that these people would carve their faith into a mountain and surrounding cave sides, writ large for everyone to see in a country where they are a persecuted minority is really humbling to me.

 

[JCFantasy23]

I go to St. Augustine, Florida a few times a year and it's one of the oldest cities in the states, some say the oldest. Some beautiful churches and architecture there.


Flagler Memorial Church, the Presbyterian Memorial Church houses the nation's oldest Presbyterian congregation and was built by Henry Flagler in 1889 in memory of his daughter, Jenny Louise Benedict. It was dedicated on March 16, 1890. The dome is made of copper and was designed in the style of Venetian Renaissance. The church is located at 32 Sevilla Street. Flagler, his daughter, wife and granddaughter were all buried in the church's mausoleum.

 

[JCFantasy23]

The mission of Nombre de Dios and the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, St. Augustine, Florida

Chapel Mission of Nombre de Dios site of the founding of St. Augustine Florida September 8, 1565
Mission of Nombre de Dios- Sanctuary Praying Chapel (Our Lady of Le Leche), reconstructed in 1915, enshrines a replica of the original statue of Nuestra Señora de la Leche y Buen Parto

Some pictures around the grounds

 

[JCFantasy23]

Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine

 

[TheLostCoin]

He brought the healing touch of Jesus into a North Korean prison | God Reports

While I reject iconoclasm, we should never forget that one doesn't need massive Cathedrals to find Christ.

Personally though, while I think that the given hope in Christ that these prisoners have under tyranny is more beautiful than Solomon's Temple, I think we can at least admire how religious societies were at one point, to the point that people put so much effort in giving the firstlings of their flock to God, like Abel did, or anointing Christ like the woman at Bethany did with expensive perfume that could've been given to the poor (John 12:1-8).

 

[Quid est Veritas?]

NG Moederkerk Graaff Reinet - South Africa


Always found this a most beautiful Church. I like the older Protestant Churches in South Africa, they are clean and bright.

The Grave of Francis of Assisi:

I liked the Church too, the Basilica in Assisi, but I thought the actual grave of Francis was far more beautiful in its own right.

 

[TheLostCoin]

Aside from the ugly flags,

Saint Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh

 

[TheLostCoin]

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, Georgia (country)

 

[TheLostCoin]

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tallinn