Churches have traditionally been symbols of people's faith and devotion to God. As a result, churches are among the biggest buildings ever constructed. Churches are also some of the world's most extravagant and gorgeous pieces of art and architecture. The vast majority of the huge churches on this list were built by Roman Catholics in the past. The Hagia Sophia, however, is now a museum, and not all of the churches are currently under Catholic control.
We didn't include any churches that were also cathedrals for the sake of this list. On a separate list, we've included the world's biggest cathedrals. These are some of the world's biggest churches at the time of this writing.
Biggest Churches in the World
1. Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
The Outside the Walls Basilica of Saint Paul is one of Rome's oldest basilicas. The Basilica's grounds were initially dedicated in the 4th century CE, and Emperor Constantine constructed the first basilica on the site. Pope Sylvester dedicated the first basilica in 324 CE. There has always been a basilica on the site since then.
The contemporary Saint Paul Outside the Walls Basilica is 8,515 square meters in size (91,654.7 square feet). A historic Benedictine Abbey, renovated by Odon of Cluny in 936 CE, is also located on the grounds of the complex. Surprisingly, the Abbey is still in operation today, under the leadership of its present Abbot.
The Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls is said to be home to papal pictures that foretell the end of the world or the Second Coming of Christ.
2. Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity
The Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, located near the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima in Portugal, is a relatively recent megachurch. The Most Holy Trinity, with an area of 8,700 square meters, is Portugal's biggest church (93,646 square feet). The Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, which seats 9,000 people, is part of a larger complex that also includes four smaller churches.
The Sanctuary of Fátima attracts millions of visitors each year, necessitating the construction of a new church since the former one could only accommodate a few hundred people. The Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity is a new structure that was completed between 2004 and 2007.
Since 1917, when Holy Mary appeared to three children on multiple occasions, the Sanctuary of Fátima has been a major Catholic pilgrimage site.
3. Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń
With a total space of 10,090 square meters, the Basilica of Our Lady of Liche is Poland's biggest church (108,608 square feet). The Basilica is situated in Liche Stary, near the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows. The church is dedicated to the Blessed Image of Our Lady of Sorrows, Queen of Poland, which has been at Liche Stary since 1857.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Liche is considered Poland's most significant pilgrimage destination since it houses the image of Our Lady of Sorrows. The Basilica was built to replace an earlier church that housed the Miraculous Image. It was completed in 1994. On June 12, 2004, the Basilica of Our Lady of Liche was dedicated after a decade of construction.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Liche's bell tower is 63 meters (206.7 feet) tall and holds Poland's biggest bell.
4. Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida
With a surface area of 12,000 square meters, the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida is Brazil's biggest church (129,167 square feet). Our Lady of Aparecida is a popular shrine among Brazilians, devoted to the Virgin Mary, who has served as the country's patron saint since 1930.
The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, the world's second-biggest cathedral, can supposedly house up to 45,000 people. Millions of visitors visit the Basilica each year to adore the Virgin Mary since it is such a significant site. Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis are among the Popes who have visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida.
A retail mall, medical clinic, and restaurants are located on the grounds around the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida.
5. St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica is the world's biggest and most well-known church. The huge St. Peter's Basilica is located in the center of Vatican City and measures 15,160 square meters (163,181 square feet) on the inside and 21,095 square meters on the outside (227,065 square feet). The Basilica of St. Peter can hold 20,000 people in prayer.
While St. Peter's Basilica is the most spectacular Catholic church, it is neither the Catholic Church's mother church nor the Diocese of Rome's cathedral (seat). It is, nonetheless, regarded as one of the holiest locations in Catholicism. Many Catholics visit St. Peter's Basilica on pilgrimage, and the Pope presides over a number of liturgies each year that gather tens of thousands of people.
6. Temple of Saint Sava, Belgrade, Serbia
The Temple of Saint Sava has an area of 8,162 square meters and is the largest Orthodox church in the world. The cathedral was started in 1935 and completed the building in 1986, and opened in 2004, while the interior has not yet been completed. The church was named after the founder of the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church.
7. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, Zaragoza, Spain
One of the most famous cathedrals in Spain Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar has an area of 8,318 square meters. The building, made in the Gothic style, was built in the second half of the 17th century, located on the banks of the Ebro River. In the middle of the Basilica is a column, which is crowned by a statue of the 15th-century Mary with a Child in her arms.
8. The Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń, Licheń Stary, Poland
The Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń has an area of 10,090 square meters. The most interesting is that the church is in the village where he lives just 1.100 inhabitants and looks gigantic in the background of the toy houses of local residents. Basilica is a major place of pilgrimage for the faithful in Poland.
9. Cathedral of Seville, Seville, Spain
Seville Cathedral, which also is called the Cathedral of Maria de la Sede, has an area of 11,520 square meters. The cathedral was built in the early 16th century on the site of a former mosque, which has long been one of the largest churches in the world.
10. Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, Aparecida, Brazil
The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida has an area of 12,000 square meters, actually occupying more space than the town in which to be. The church is made in the shape of a cross it is a major pilgrimage center for the Brazilian believers.
11. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
The largest church in the world is the center of Catholicism, St. Peter's Basilica, which has an area of 20,193 square meters. Here lies the remains of St. Peter one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. It took more than a hundred years to build the cathedral, the work of several prominent Italian architects. At least in the following century, St. Peter will remain the largest and most beautiful church in the world.
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