Most churches are instantly recognizable as places of religious worship. However, there are some churches that surprise and even shock believers with their appearance.
1. Chapel of the Holy Cross
This remarkable church structure, built into the picturesque red cliffs above Sedona, is one of the man-made wonders of the American state of Arizona. Designed by architect Richard Hein, the chapel was built in the 1950s with funds from devout Catholic Marguerite Staude. The building's design was inspired by the Empire State Building.
According to local believers, the chapel is located in a special, energetically powerful spot. They believe the boundaries between worlds are very thin in the area where it was built, facilitating spiritual healing. Others say the chapel is simply a beautiful place for reflection.
2. Ossuary in Sedlec
This Gothic church, located in the Kutná Hora district of the Czech city, offers a new perspective on the use of human remains. The interior of the ossuary, as its name suggests, is decorated with human bones and skulls. Legend has it that Abbot Henry returned from the Holy Land in the 13th century, bringing with him soil collected from Golgotha. He scattered it across the cemetery. Many people, upon learning of this, asked to be buried on holy ground, but there was not enough space for everyone in the cemetery. In the early 15th century, a cathedral with a crypt was built on the cemetery grounds. Bones exhumed from graves (to make room for new burials) began to be stored in the crypt. Over time, their number grew. It was only in the 19th century that woodcarver František Rint began to bring order to the pile of haphazardly stacked skeletal parts.
This is what it led to:
— In each corner of the church he placed a bell-shaped pile of bones 3 meters high and 4 meters wide.
— A huge chandelier made of bones and skulls hangs from the ceiling to the floor.
— Cups and urns made of bones filled the niches on the walls.
Perhaps Master Rint's most impressive creation is the coat of arms of the noble Czech Schwarzenberg family, crafted from bones. It depicts a raven pecking out the eye of a decapitated head.
3. Basilica of Saint Ursula
In this basilica you can see the largest mosaic made from parts of human bodies.
According to legend, Saint Ursula was a British princess who lived around 300-600 AD. A deeply religious woman, Ursula decided to embark on a pilgrimage across Europe. She was accompanied by 11,000 virgins (other versions say only 11, or perhaps there were 11 ships, not virgins—it's hard to tell with the passage of time). Their ships miraculously made it from Britain to Rome, and then, due to strong winds, set course for Cologne. At the time, the Huns were ravaging Europe. Ursula was captured and tortured, along with her companions.
Saint Ursula's relics were later housed in a basilica built in Cologne. But in the Middle Ages, a pit full of bones was discovered. These were assumed to be the remains of Ursula's retinue, and they, too, were transferred to the basilica. They now adorn the walls of the Golden Chamber.
Curiously, many of the "virgin" bones actually belonged to men, infants, and even large dogs.
4. Cathedral in Maringa
While the Chapel of the Holy Cross blends in with its surroundings, the cathedral in the Brazilian state of Paraná stands in stark contrast to the local landscape. This enormous conical structure is not only one of the most bizarre cathedrals in the world, but also the tallest Catholic church in South America, at 124 meters. The purpose of this unusual design for the city's cathedral was to bring people closer to God. Well, a fall from its summit will certainly direct anyone to a meeting with the Almighty via the shortest route.
An interesting fact: the cathedral's shape was "suggested" to its architects by Soviet satellites. The initial design was by Don Jaime Luis Coelho, while the final architectural version was designed by José Augusto Bellucci.
5. Reading between the lines
A church in Borgloon, Belgium, has a similarly strange name. To address the dichotomy between the abundance of churches and their seemingly increasing irrelevance in the modern world, architects Peterjan Gijs and Arnout van Vaerenbergh built the unique "Reading Between the Lines" church. Constructed from one hundred layers of steel, it allows spectators to see beyond the church into the landscape. The voids between the steel plates give the building a surprising lightness, and upon entering, one can admire the whimsical interplay of light and shadow.
This structure is not used for regular church services and is essentially a work of art. However, any believer has the right to freely enter the "transparent" church and pray.
6. Chen Chappell
Second place in the list of amazing churches goes to an ancient French church built inside a gigantic 800-year-old oak tree. According to local legend, William the Conqueror himself prayed under this tree.
In the 17th century, the tree began to be used as a chapel after lightning struck it and burned the wood inside. This event left the oak tree hollow, but still alive. Taking the lightning strike as a divine sign, the local priest converted the tree's shell into a chapel.
In the 18th century, atheist revolutionaries threatened to burn the tree, but local residents saved it, renaming it the "Temple of Reason" to align with the "attitudes" of the French Revolution.
7. Katskhi Pillar in Georgia
This is probably the most unusual church on Earth, and one of the places closest to the "heavenly office." After all, the church is built on a large limestone monolith, 40 meters high.
Pagans once used this monolith to worship the god of fertility, but this ceased when Georgia converted to Christianity.
Around the seventh century, a small church was built on top of the pillar. It was a visible embodiment of escape from the vanity of life and closeness to God. Monks used it for religious ceremonies until the Ottoman Empire invaded Georgia.
In the 18th century, attempts were made to climb the Katskhi pillar, but all ended in failure, and it was only conquered by Soviet explorers in 1944.
An examination of the upper part of the column revealed that there were once cells, a crypt, and even a wine cellar, meaning that monastic life was not deprived of all earthly pleasures.
In 1993, a lone monk, Father Maxim, moved into a grotto beneath a stone column and lived there throughout the winter. He collected donations for the construction of a church, and achieved his goal: construction began in 2008, supported by the townspeople and clergy.
Currently, a church named after Maximus the Confessor stands to the southeast of the Katskhi pillar. Local residents have given the building a different name: "The Fortress of Solitude.".
8. Arctic Cathedral
A Lutheran church in the Norwegian city of Tromsø. The architect intended the building's exterior, consisting of two merging triangular structures covered in aluminum sheets, to evoke the image of an iceberg.
9. Cologne Cathedral
The Roman Catholic Gothic cathedral in Cologne, Germany, is the third tallest church in the world and is a World Heritage Site. Construction of the main church of the Archdiocese of Cologne was completed in two stages: from 1248 to 1437 and from 1842 to 1880. Upon completion, the 157-meter cathedral became the tallest building in the world for four years.
10. Mosque in Tirana
A design for a cultural center in Tirana, Albania's capital, will include a mosque, an Islamic cultural center, and the Museum of Religious Harmony. The Danish architectural firm BIG won the international competition for the project last year.
11. Sheikh Zayed Mosque
The snow-white marble Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the six largest mosques in the world, is located in Abu Dhabi. It opened in 2007, and since March 2008, tours have been open to everyone, not just Muslims. The mosque boasts the world's largest carpet and the largest chandelier.
12. Milan Cathedral
The world-famous fourth-largest church in the world is located in the very center of Milan and is its symbol. This late-Gothic wonder boasts a veritable forest of spires and sculptures, marble pinnacles and columns. The white marble cathedral took over five centuries to build.
13. St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery
One of the oldest monasteries in Kyiv, it includes the newly built St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral, a refectory with the Church of St. John the Evangelist, and a bell tower. It is believed that St. Michael's Cathedral was the first church with a gilded dome, giving rise to this unique tradition in Rus'.
14. Inflatable Church
Dutch philosopher Frank Los has created the Transparent Church, an inflatable church that can be erected anywhere in the world and under any circumstances: at festivals, private parties, and other large-scale events. The inflatable church fits easily in the trunk of a car and, when disassembled, can accommodate approximately 30 worshippers.
15. Notre-Dame-du-Haut
A concrete pilgrimage church built between 1950 and 1955 in the French town of Ronchamp. Architect Le Corbusier, although not religious, agreed to undertake the project on the condition that the Catholic Church grant him complete freedom of artistic expression. Initially, the unconventional building provoked violent protests from local residents, who refused to supply the church with water and electricity. However, tourists visiting it have now become one of the main sources of income for the residents of Ronchamp.
16. Church of the Transfiguration on Kizhi Island
The Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord on Kizhi Island in Karelia is a masterpiece of wood architecture and the pinnacle of carpentry. Founded in 1714, the church is part of the Kizhi Pogost architectural complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The structure's core is an octagonal frame—an "octagon"—with four two-tiered annexes, positioned at the cardinal points. Two more smaller octagonal frames are successively placed on the lower octagon. The church's frame is constructed in the traditional Russian carpentry style—without nails. Nails are found only in the domes.
17. Painted church in Arbor
The painted churches are Moldova's most famous architectural landmarks. The churches are decorated with frescoes both inside and out. Each of these churches is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
18. Cathedral of Our Lady in Tears
A concrete tent-shaped cathedral towers over the Italian city of Syracuse. In the mid-20th century, an elderly couple lived on the site of the cathedral and owned a statue of the Madonna. One day, the statue began to "weep" human tears, and pilgrims from all over the world flocked to the city. A huge cathedral, clearly visible from anywhere in the city, was built in its honor.
19. St. Basil's Cathedral
This Orthodox church is located on Red Square in Moscow. It is a widely renowned monument of Russian architecture and one of the most famous landmarks in Russia. It was built between 1555 and 1561 by order of Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the victory over the Kazan Khanate. According to legend, the cathedral's architects were blinded by order of Ivan the Terrible to prevent them from building another such church.
20. Las Lajas Cathedral
One of the most visited churches in Colombia, construction was completed in 1948. The neo-Gothic cathedral is built directly on a 30-meter-high arched bridge connecting the two sides of a deep gorge. The church is cared for by two Franciscan communities, one Colombian and the other Ecuadorian. Thus, Las Lajas Cathedral became a pledge of peace and union between the two South American nations.
21. Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Brasilia was built in the modernist style according to the designs of renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer. In 1988, Oscar Niemeyer won the Pritzker Prize for his unique design. The building consists of 16 hyperboloid columns, symbolizing hands raised to the sky. The space between the columns is covered with stained glass.
22. Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá
The Zipaquirá Cathedral in Colombia is carved out of solid salt rock. A dark tunnel leads to the altar. The cathedral is 23 meters high and can accommodate over 10,000 people. Historically, this site was a mine used by indigenous people to extract salt. When the need for this was no longer present, a temple was built on the site.
23. Stavkirka in Borgunn
One of the oldest surviving timber-frame churches is located in Norway. No metal parts were used in the construction of the Borgund Stave Church, although the church itself consists of over 2,000 parts. The sturdy frame of posts was assembled on the ground and then raised to a vertical position using long poles. The Borgund Stave Church was built, presumably, between 1150 and 1180.
24. Hallgrimskirkja
The Lutheran Church in Reykjavik is the fourth tallest building in Iceland. The church was designed in 1937 by architect Guðjón Samuelsson. Construction took 38 years. Situated in the center of Reykjavik, the church is visible from anywhere in the city. It has become one of the city's main landmarks and also serves as an observation tower.
25. Kailash Temple
The Kailash Temple, a Hindu temple carved entirely from rock, is located in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The architectural feats of the Indian builders involved in its construction are staggering. Work began in the 8th century and lasted over 100 years. Ultimately, the structure occupies an area twice the size of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. It is one of the largest temples in the world, rivaling even the Taj Mahal in Agra. It rises over 30 meters, and almost its entire surface is covered with intricate carvings.
26. Lotus Temple
The Lotus Temple is located near New Delhi, India. Construction lasted from 1978 to 1986, largely financed by imprisoned Bahá'ís in Iran. The architect was Canadian Fariborz Sahba.
27. Church of St. George
A cave church carved entirely out of rock is located in the Ethiopian city of Lalibela. The building is a cross measuring 25 by 25 meters and extends the same distance underground. According to legend, this miracle was accomplished in the 13th century by order of King Lalibela, taking 24 years to complete. Lalibela contains 11 churches, all carved out of rock and connected by tunnels.
28. Grundtvig's Church
A Lutheran church located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is one of the city's most famous churches and a rare example of a religious building built in the Expressionist style. The design competition for the future church was won in 1913 by architect Peder Klint. Construction lasted from 1921 to 1926.
29. Paraportiani Church
This dazzling white church is located on the Greek island of Mykonos. Built between the 15th and 17th centuries, it consists of five separate churches: four built above ground, and a fifth built on top of these four.
30. Church of St. Joseph
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church of St. Joseph in Chicago was built in 1956. It is known worldwide for its 13 golden domes, symbolizing the 12 apostles and Jesus Christ.
31. Church of the Holy Family
This Barcelona church, built with private donations since 1882, is a renowned design by Antoni Gaudí. Its unusual appearance has made it one of Barcelona's main landmarks. However, due to the complexity of the stonework, the cathedral will not be completed until 2026.
32. Church of Consolation
Located in the Spanish city of Cordoba, this still-young church was designed by the architectural firm Vicens + Ramos last year according to strict minimalist principles. The only deviation from the stark white color scheme is the gold wall where the altar once stood.
33. United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel
Located in Colorado, on the grounds of a military camp and training base of the U.S. Air Force Pilot Academy branch. The chapel's monumental profile is created by seventeen rows of steel frames, culminating in peaks at a height of approximately fifty meters. The building is divided into three levels, and services for Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish denominations are held in its halls.
34. Chapel of the Crown of Thorns
The wooden chapel is located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, USA. Designed by architect E. Fay Jones, it was built in 1980. The bright and spacious chapel features 425 windows.
35. Farmers' Chapel
A concrete chapel on the edge of a field near the German town of Mechernich was built by local farmers in honor of their patron saint, Bruder Klaus.
36. Chesme Church
The Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is an active Orthodox church in St. Petersburg, located on Lensoveta Street, a monument of pseudo-Gothic architecture. The church building was constructed to commemorate the Russian fleet's victory over the Turkish fleet in Chesma Bay in the Aegean Sea in 1770.
37. Jubilee Church
The Church of Our Lady of Mercy, or the Church of Our Lady of Mercy, is a community center in Rome. Built by architect Richard Meier between 1996 and 2003, it aims to revitalize the neighborhood. The church is constructed of precast concrete on a triangular site at the edge of a city park, surrounded by 10-story residential and public buildings housing approximately 30,000 residents.