Beautiful Churches - St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow, Russia

St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow, Russia

St. Basil's Cathedral is also known as the Cathedral of the Intercession. Saint Basil's Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox Church erected on the Red Square in Moscow in 1555–61. The Saint Basil's Cathedral was built on the order of Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan. The original building, known as "Trinity Church" and later "Trinity Cathedral", contained eight side churches arranged around the ninth. The tenth Church was erected in 1588 over the grave of revered local Saint Vasily (Basil). The building's design has no analogues in Russian architecture and it is shaped as a flame of a bonfire rising into the sky. The church was taken away from the Russian Orthodox community as part of the Soviet Unions anti-theist campaigns and has operated as a division of the State Historical Museum since 1928.

Icon of St. Basil the Blessed

It was completely and forcefully secularized in 1929 and, as of 2012, remains a federal property of the Russian Federation. The church has been part of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.
According to the legend, missing ninth Church (precisely, sanctuary) was "miraculously found" during a ceremony attended by Tsar. Another popular legend is that Ivan the Terrible had the architect of St. Basil's eyes pulled out after the cathedral was completed so that the architect could not be able to build an equally beautiful structure anywhere else. Yet another legend tells that Napoleon after realizing that he could not count St. Basil's Cathedral among his war spoils, wanted it destroyed. The fuses lit by his men were supposedly snuffed by a sudden downpour.

Famous Churches - Chartres Cathedral,France

Chartres Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres) is located in the medieval town of Chartres, about 50 miles from Paris. Chartres Cathedral is one of the greatest achievements in the history of architecture and it is almost perfectly preserved in its original design and details.

Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France

In addition to its architectural splendor, Chartres Cathedral has been a major pilgrimage destination since the early middle ages. According to popular belief, Chartres Cathedral has housed the tunic of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Sancta Camisia, since 876. The relic was said to have been given to the cathedral by Charlemagne, who received it as a gift during a trip to Jerusalem. Chartres has been a very important Marian pilgrimage center and the faithful still come from the world over to honor the relic. In 1020, a glorious new Romanesque basilica with a massive crypt was built under the direction of Bishop Fulbert and later Geoffroy de Lèves. The cathedral survived a fire in 1134 that destroyed much of the town. On the night of June 10, 1194, lightning ignited a great fire that destroyed all but the west towers, the façade and the crypt. Sancta Camisia  was found unharmed in the treasury  after three days, it was attributed as a miracle. After reconstruction, On October 24, 1260, Chartres Cathedral  was finally dedicated in the presence of King Louis IX and his family. The cathedral was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1979.

Famous Churches - The Cathedral of Seville, Andalusia, Spain

The Cathedral of Seville, Andalusia, Spain

The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Sea (Catedral de Santa María de la Sede), better known as Seville Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Seville, Andalusia, Spain. Seville's Cathedral occupies the site of a great mosque in the late 12th century. It is the largest Cathedral in Spain and the third largest (by square footage) in the entire world. It is one of the last Spanish Gothic Cathedrals, and the Renaissance style is already evident there. Its impressive size makes it the third largest in the Christian world, after Saint Peter's in Vatican City and Saint Paul's in London.

Interior - The Cathedral of Seville, Andalusia, Spain

With its five naves it is the largest Gothic building in Europe. Christian architects added the extra dimension of height. Its central nave rises to an amazing 42 meters and even the side chapels seem tall enough to contain an ordinary church.
The total area covers 11,520 square meters. The lifetime's work of a single craftsman, Pierre Dancart, this is the ultimate masterpiece of the cathedral - the largest and richest altarpiece in the world and one of the finest examples of Gothic woodcarving anywhere. The cathedralwas completed in just over a century (1402-1506).
Inside the Cathedral of Seville you will be struck by the size and richness of this universe of stone, stained glass windows and wrought iron work. The lightness of the columns accentuates the height of this hall-church with five spaces and lateral chapels.

Interior - Seville Cathedral

The simple crossing ogive vaults cover the nave except for the transept crossing where the flamboyant vaults stand 56 m tall. A mirror in the floor lets you appreciate the superb carving. Along with the city's Alcazar and Archivo de las Indias, Seville Cathedral was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.

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