Church Architecture

Marseille Cathedral
Artist: Léon Vaudoyer and Henri-Jacques Espérandieu
1852 - 1896 Architecture

Marseille Cathedral ( Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure de Marseille or Cathédrale de la Major) is a Roman Catholic cathedral, and a national monument of France, located in Marseille.

Masbate Cathedral
1954 Architecture

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Saint Anthony of Padua Cathedral, commonly known as Masbate Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic church located in Masbate City, Masbate, Philippines. Founded in 1578 by Spanish missionaries, it is presently the cathedral or seat of the Diocese of Masbate. The foundation of the first structures of the cathedral-parish wasn laid in 1954.

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
Artist: Claudio de Arciniega , Juan Gómez de Trasmonte , José Eduardo de Herrera, José Damián, Ortiz de Castro, Manuel Tolsá
1573 - 1813 Architecture

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Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heavenis the cathedral church of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico. It is situated on top of the former Aztec sacred precinct near the Templo Mayor on the northern side of the Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo) in the historic center of Mexico City. The cathedral was built in sections from 1573 to 1813 around the original church that was constructed soon after the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlan, eventually replacing it entirely. Spanish architect Claudio de Arciniega planned the construction, drawing inspiration from Gothic cathedrals in Spain.

Work on the current building began in the late 16th century and continued over the next 250 years. The interior features lofty vaults and the exterior boasts two bell towers with 25 bells total.

In 2007, a box hidden in 1742 was discovered in one of the towers. The box was found inside a hollow stone ball and contained religious talismans to protect the church

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When we think of Christian architecture, we may picture towering cathedrals with intricate stained-glass windows, but the roots of this style are much more humble. The earliest Christian structures were not grand, but rather simple house churches. As Christianity grew, its places of worship grew in size and intricacy.

The transition from early Christian to medieval architecture paralelled societal and religious changes. The Romanesque style, characterized by its rounded arches and massive walls, was followed by the Gothic style with its pointed archs, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses.

Christian architecture has created some of the world’s most iconic structures. These buildings all share a common thread: they are physical manifestations of the Christian faith.

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