The Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire)
has only 20-30% Christians, with the remainder adhering to indigenous
animist religions (25-40%) and Islam (35-40%). Located in the
West African bush,
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| Basilique de Notre Dame de la Paix de Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast |
The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace (Basilique de Notre Dame de la Paix de Yamoussoukro) in
Yamoussoukro is one of the
Largest Church in The World.
Côte d'Ivoire president
Félix Houphouët-Boigny chose his birthplace of
Yamoussoukro
as the new capital of his country in 1983. As part of the plan for the
city, the president wished to memorialize himself with the construction
of what would be the "
Greatest Church in the World."
The president commissioned a stained glass window of his image to be
placed beside a gallery of stained glass of Jesus and the apostles. The
basilica was constructed between
1985 and 1989, it was intentionally modeled after the
Basilica of Saint Peter in Rome, whose size it intentionally surpassed to become the
largest church in the world. The cornerstone was laid on August 10, 1985, and was consecrated on September 10, 1990.
Architect Pierre Fakhoury constructed the dome to be slightly lower and the cross on top to be larger.
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| Basilique de Notre Dame de la Paix de Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast |
It
is a remarkably beautiful building. The finished height is 158 meters
(518 feet). There is enough space to seat 7,000 people in the nave with
standing room for an additional 11,000 people.
The Basilica is constructed with
marble imported from
Italy and is furnished with 7,000 square meters of contemporary
stained glass from France.
Columns are plentiful throughout the basilica but are not uniform in
style. Next to the basilica are two identical buildings serving as a
rectory and
private papal villa, respectively.
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