Unique Churches - The Church of Panagia Paraportiani in Mykonos Greece, Cyclades

The Church of Panagia Paraportiani in Mykonos Greece, Cyclades: The lovely church of Panagia (Virgin Mary) Paraportiani is among the most photographed churches in Mykonos.

The Church of Panagia Paraportiani in Mykonos Greece

The Panagia Paraportiani (Our Lady of the Postern Gate) is the most famous of the many churches on Mykonos. The sloping, whitewashed conglomeration of four chapels mixes Byzantine and vernacular architecture. Its position on a promontory facing the sea sets off the unique architecture.  It is located at the entrance of Kastro neighborhood, right next to the sea. Its name Paraportiani actually means "standing next to the entrance door", meaning that the church was next to the Castle door. The building of this church started in 1425 and was not completed until the 17th century. The special thing about this church is that it actually consists of five small churches that were built one on top or next to the other. The church of Agios Efstathiosis the centre of this complex, surrounded by the churches of Agios  Anargyros, Agios Sozon and Agia Anastasia. On top of these four churches, there is the Church of Virgin Mary, which looks like a dome. The five churches were not constructed at once, but gradually along centuries. The oldest church is Agios Anargyros, which was built in late 14th century. The other churches were built in the 16th and the 17th century.

Famous Churches - The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood" (Spas na Kravi) at St Petersburg, Russia

The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood" (known locally as Spas na Kravi) is a spectacular Russian-style church that was built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated in March 1881.

The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, (Spas na Kravi), St. Petersburg, Russia

After assuming power in 1855 in the wake of Russia’s devastating defeat in the Crimean war against Britain, France and Turkey, Alexander II initiated a number of reforms. During the second half of his reign Alexander II grew cautious of the dangers of his system of reforms, having only barely survived a series of attempts on his life, including an explosion in the Winter Palace and the derailment of a train. Alexander II was finally assassinated in 1881 by a group of revolutionaries, who threw a bomb at his royal carriage. architects were invited to submit plans for the building of this permanent monument and the definitive designs of Alfred Parland (1842-1920), were accepted after he won the competition set up by Alexander III, which stipulated that it had to be in the 'purely Russian style of the 17th century'. The foundation stone was laid in 1883 and it took nearly a quarter of a century to complete. With its distinctive cupolas the Muscovy design is unique in St. Petersburg and provides a dramatic contrast to the Neo-Classical Architecture which dominates the city center. Amongst this colorful exterior are 20 granite plaques recording the historic events of Alexander II's reign.

Interior- The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, (Spas na Kravi)

Inside there is almost 7,000 sq. meters of Italian marble and over 20 different Russian minerals, embellished with opulent mosaics based on paintings by Nikolai Bruni, Mikhail Nesterov, Viktor (Vassili) Vasnetsov, Andrei Ryabushkin and other religious artists of the late 19th century. Christ and the Apostles are portrayed within the cupola, whilst the walls and pillars are totally adorned with other Biblical scenes or images of saints. Mosaics fill the niches, crevices and cornices and no surface is left bare of ornamentation. The highest steeple is 81m (265 ft) high and the bell tower seen on the left has 144 individual mosaic coats of arms. These represent provinces, cities and towns of the Russian empire and were intended to reflect the nation's grief after the murder of their Tsar. Lenin originally wished to demolish this monument to Tsardom until it was suggested that because large buildings were scarce, it would serve well as a warehouse. Bolsheviks proposed number of times to demolish this increasingly popular monument to Christianity, but God Saved this Marvelous Church.

Famous Churches -The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross), Florence, Italy

The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross),Florence

The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross)  is truly unique, not only for the purity of the Gothic style, but also for the famous works of art it contains and its historical importance.  

Interior - The Basilica di Santa Croce, Florence

Santa Croce, rebuilt for the Franciscan order in 1294 by Arnolfo di Cambio, is the burial place for the great and good in Florence. Michelangelo is buried in Santa Croce, as are Rossini, Machiavelli, and the Pisan-born Galileo Galilei, who was tried by the Inquisition and was not allowed a Christian burial until 1737, 95 years after his death. There is also a memorial to Dante, but his sarcophagus is empty. The present basilica, traditionally attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio, was built from 1295, on the site where, around 1210, the first Franciscan Friars to arrive in Florence had a small oratory. Santa Croce is planned as an Egyptian cross (in the shape of a T), with an open timber roof; there are many tomb slabs set into the pavement. The nave is wide and well-lit, with massive widely-spaced piers supporting pointed arches. The facade with its three gables dates to the 19th century and the campanile in Gothic style also dates to this period. A portico of airy arches runs along the left flank and shelters the 14th-century tomb of Francesco Pazzi. The imposing interior has a nave and two side aisles separated by slender octagonal piers from which spring spacious pointed arches with a double molding. The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross), Florence, Italy also contains numerous examples of typically Renaissance sculpture. The most famous of these is the Crucifix by Donatello (1425, Bardi Chapel in the left transept) and his aristocratic Annunciation in grey stone with gilded highlights (1430-35), recently restored by the Opificio delle Pietre Dure. The Pulpit by Benedetto da Maiano (1472-80) or the Madonna of Milk by Antonio Rossellino (1478), placed above the tomb of Francesco Nori, prior of the Republic, who died saving Lorenzo the Magnificent life at the time of the " Pazzi Conspiracy", the two funeral monuments by Bernardo Rossellino (1444-1451) and Desiderio da Settignano (1455-64). The former, dedicated to Leonardo Bruni (1369-1444), humanist and Chancellor of the Republic, is considered a prototype among Renaissance tomb monuments.

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Famous Churches - The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City

Old The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is located in Templo Expiatorio a Cristo Rey," Mexico City, in the northern neighborhood of Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo, Officially known as the "The Legend. The construction of the old basilica began in 1531 and was not finished until 1709.
Legend
According to the legend, Juan Diego was walking between his village and Mexico City on December 12, 1531 when Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared, speaking to him in his native Nahuatl language. She told him to build a church at the site. When Juan Diego spoke to the Spanish bishop, the bishop did not believe him, asking for a miraculous sign to prove his vision's authenticity. The Virgin appeared to Juan Deigo again and, although it was winter, told him to gather flowers.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Miraculously, Spanish roses bloomed right at his feet. When Juan Diego presented these to the bishop, the roses fell from his apron (the Tilma) and an icon of the Virgin was miraculously imprinted on the cloth. The bishop ordered a Church built at once, dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Spanish missionaries used the story of her appearance to help convert millions of indigenous people in what had been the Aztec Empire.
The original miraculous apron containing the image of the Virgin hangs behind bullet-proof glass above the altar in the new basilica. The basilica now houses a museum of ex-votos (hand-painted depictions of miracles, dedicated to Mary or a saint in gratitude) and popular religious art, paintings, sculpture, and decorative and applied arts from the 15th through 18th centuries.
The present church was constructed on the site of an earlier 16th-century church that was finished in 1709, the Old Basilica.  When this basilica became dangerous due to the sinking of its foundations, a modern structure called the New Basilica was built next to it; the original image of the Virgin of Guadalupe is now housed in this New Basilica.

New Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico

Built between 1974 and 1976, the new Basilica has a circular floor plan. The circular structure is 100 meters (330 feet) in diameter, and can accommodate up to 50,000 people. The choir is located between the altar and the churchgoers to indicate that it, too, is part of the group of the faithful.
To the sides are the chapels of the Santisimo and of Saint Joseph. It has 9 chapels on the upper floor. Under the main floor are the Basilica's crypts, with 15,000 niches and 10 chapels. Its seven front doors are an insinuation to the seven gates of Celestial Jerusalem referred to by Christ.

Famous Churches - The Basilica at Eztergom, Hungary

The small town of Esztergom sitting on the bank of River Danube in Hungary played an important role in the establishment of the Hungarian state1000 years ago.

The Basilica at Eztergom, Hungary

The building of The Basilica at Eztergom, Hungary is constructed on the foundation of several earlier churches. The first was built by Stephen I of Hungary. Saint Stephen I was Grand Prince and the First King of Hungary. He greatly expanded Hungarian control over the Carpathian Basin during his lifetime, broadly established Christianity in the region. The Original Saint Adalbert Church was constructed in 1001–1010, as the First Cathedral in Hungary and was burned down at the end of XII century. It was rebuilt, and even survived the Mongol invasion of Hungary. However, in 1304, Wenceslaus III, a probable candidate for the Hungarian throne, sacked the castle and the church. It was repaired in the following years.

The Basilica at Eztergom, Hungary

The archbishops of the XIV and XV century decorated and improved the church, made alterations and added a huge library (The second most significant one in the country). It was ruined again under Turkish rule, in 1543. In 1820, the Archdiocese was restored and Archbishop Sándor Rudnay decided to restore status as mother church of the country. The architect was Pál Kühnel , the lead contractor was János Packh. The foundation-stone was laid and work began in 1822 and the final completion of The Basilica at Eztergom took place twelve years later in 1869. It is the tallest building in Hungary and the 18th biggest church in the world. The Church maintains the relics of Catholic martyr and Saint Marko Krizin.

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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Beautiful Churches - The Salt Lake Temple(Latter-day Saints) at Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Wonderful granite structure of The Salt Lake LDS Temple was constructed over a period of 40 years, from the laying of the cornerstones on 6 April 1853 to the dedication on 6 April 1893.

The Salt Lake Temple, Utah, USA

The location for the temple was first marked by Brigham Young, the priest and second president of the church, on July 28, 1847, just four days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley. The temple site was dedicated on February 14, 1853. Groundbreaking ceremonies were presided over by Brigham Young, who laid the cornerstone on April 6 of that year. The Salt Lake LDS Temple is the centerpiece of the 10-acre (4.0 ha) Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Salt Lake Temple took 40 years to build with its highly ornate interior being completed in just a year. The walls of the Salt Lake Temple are nine feet thick at the base and six feet thick at the top. The Salt Lake Temple features beautiful hand-painted murals on the walls of its progressive-style ordinance rooms: Creation Room, Garden Room, World Room, Terrestrial Room (no murals), and Celestial Room (no murals). Rich symbolism adorns the exterior of The Salt Lake LDS Temple, depicting mankind's journey from mortality into the eternal realms.

SLC Temple Assembly Hall

• The Angel Moroni depicts both a messenger of the restoration of the gospel and a herald of the Second Coming: "for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the remainder of his elect from the four winds"( Revelation 14:6).
• The three towers on the east side represent the First Presidency of the Church and the Melchizedek Priesthood; the twelve pinnacles rising from the towers represent the Twelve Apostles. The three towers on the west side represent the Presiding Bishopric and the Aaronic Priesthood; the twelve pinnacles rising from the towers represent the High Council.

  
  

• The castle-like battlements that surround the temple symbolize a separation from the world as well as a protection of the holy ordinances practiced within its walls.
• The Earthstones, located at the base of each buttress, represent the earth—the "footstool of God."
• The moon is depicted in its various phases around the temple. The changing moon can represent the stages of human progression from birth to resurrection.
• The sunstones depict the sun—a symbol of the glory of the celestial kingdom.
• High above the sunstones on the east center tower are two clouds with descending rays of light. Once temples were dedicated in ancient Israel, they were filled with the "cloud of the Lord."
• Six-pointed stars represent the actual stars in the heaven. Upside-down five-pointed stars represent morning stars, compared to the "sons of God" in the scriptures. The large upright five-pointed stars may represent the governing power of the priesthood while the small upright five-pointed stars may represent the saving power of the priesthood for those who attach themselves to it.
• Located atop each of the center towers of the temple is the all-seeing eye of God, which represents God's ability to see all things.

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