Church Architecture

Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv
Artist: Kievan Rus
1037 Architecture

The cathedral is named after the 6th-century Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) cathedral in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul), which was dedicated to the Holy Wisdom rather than to a specific saint named Sophia.

With its sparkling white walls and green and gold cupolas, Saint Sophia’s Cathedral is one of Kiev’s most famous sights. The beautiful Byzantine-style cathedral was originally built in the 11th century to house the tombs of Kievan rulers. Its walls were decked with fabulous frescoes and mosaics. Almost demolished by the Soviets, the cathedral thankfully still lies in the centre of Kiev.

Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral (Indianapolis)
Artist: Renwick, Aspinwall and Russell, W. L. Coulter of New York
1892 - 1936 Architecture

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Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, and of the Archbishop of Indianapolis. Silas Chatard, The cathedral parish was established in 1892, and named it after Saint Peter and Saint Paul, two apostles of Christ.

Salisbury Cathedral
Artist: Richard Poore; Elias of Dereham (possibly)
1220-58 Architecture

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Salisbury Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and originally a Catholic church, is an Anglican cathedral in the city of Salisbury, England.

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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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