How to celebrate Christmas Mass? Let’s go to the most beautiful church in the world to experience Christmas together! The Christmas Mass is particularly intense in the church. We take a look at the ten most beautiful churches in the world, both ancient and modern, to find a good place to go for Christmas Mass.

The *** on Christmas Eve is an event held in the Christian Church. Christmas Eve Mass is generally divided into two times, one is held for the faithful from 9 to 10 pm; the other is the high mass at midnight, which is the first time of the whole night. The Midnight Mass ends at midnight. At this time, Christmas is approaching, often accompanied by church bells, ringing out forgiveness, blessings, joy and happiness to the world. Nowadays, the most crowded place on Christmas Eve is not the dance floor in the disco or the streets of the busy city, but the open area of ??the church. This purest way of celebrating Christmas is being sought after by more and more people.

The most famous church of Notre Dame de Paris

Notre Dame de Paris is located on the ?le de la Cité in the Seine River in the center of Paris. It is a typical "Gothic" church. It is world-famous mainly because it is an epoch-making symbol in the history of European architecture. The main facade of Notre Dame has a unique style, rigorous structure, and looks very majestic and solemn. It is divided longitudinally into three large blocks by pilasters; three decorative strips divide it horizontally into three parts, among which there are three recessed door openings at the bottom. Above the doorway is the so-called "King's Gallery", which has twenty-eight sculptures representing the kings of Israel and the Jewish state. The upper part of the "corridor" is the central part, with two huge stone lattice windows on both sides, and a large rose-shaped round window in the middle, which is about 10 meters in diameter and was built between 1220 and 1225. The Virgin Mary and the Child are enshrined in the center, with statues of angels standing on both sides. On either side stand statues of Adam and Eve.

Notre Dame de Paris

The interior hall of the church can accommodate 9,000 people. The large pipe organ in the hall is also famous, with 6,000 pipes. The sound is rich and loud, especially suitable for playing hymns and tragic music. Many major ceremonies have been held here, such as the reading of the victory hymn of the Second World War in 1945, and the funeral of French President General Charles de Gaulle in 1970.

Notre Dame de Paris is known as a first-class symphony composed of huge stones in the history of world architecture. Although this is a religious building, it sparkles with the wisdom of the French people and reflects people's pursuit and yearning for a better life.

The spire of Cologne Cathedral on the Rhine River

Cologne Cathedral is famous for its lightness and elegance. It is the most perfect Gothic building in the world.

Cologne Cathedral

Cologne Cathedral is the pride and symbol of Cologne. It is known as the three major religious buildings in Europe along with Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It is said that the construction of the cathedral was started in 1248 during the Caroline Dynasty. The construction was stopped for a period of time and was finally completed in 1880. Its construction period lasted for more than 630 years, making it the longest in the world. The scale of the project was huge, and thousands of design drawings are still preserved. On August 15, 1248, the foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral was laid. Due to previous wars, especially the two long religious wars of the "Thirty Years' War" and the "Hundred Years' War", the construction project was intermittent. On September 4, 1842, under the auspices of King William IV of Prussia, the foundation stone of the cathedral was laid for the second time. Until October 15, 1880, a grand completion ceremony was held for Cologne Cathedral. At that time, it was honored as the tallest building in the world with its two 157-meter-high towers. It was one of the most outstanding achievements in the history of architecture. There are countless small spiers around the church.

The Cologne Cathedral is the most spectacular at night: the spotlights mounted on the surrounding buildings emit a stream of cold blue light at the church, shining on the magnificent building, with a bright blue glow. , as if embedded with blue gems, dyed with a beautiful and mysterious color. The double spiers in the center of the church pierce the sky, and a series of pointed arch windows carry the steep roof. The whole church looks strange, cold, and full of power.

Westminster Abbey, the royal coronation shrine

Westminster Abbey enjoys the supreme status in the UK. It is the exclusive chapel of the British royal family and has been used by almost all British kings since 1066. The Coronation Church, the Royal Wedding Church, and all major royal ceremonies are held here. From the 16th to the 18th century, Westminster was an academic center as famous as Oxford and Cambridge, and the English version of the Bible was translated here. In the church cemetery, all the British kings and the most outstanding figures in various fields in history are buried, so Westminster Abbey is also called the "spire of honor". In 1987, Westminster Abbey was listed as a World Cultural Heritage.

Westminster Abbey

Overall, this is a typical Gothic building with tall and dignified columns, exquisite and graceful carvings, gorgeous stained glass, and towering The spire and bell tower look tall and tall, and are considered masterpieces of British Gothic architecture. However, after continuous reconstruction and expansion by successive kings from the 13th to 16th centuries, it has actually become a hodgepodge of various architectural styles. During the last renovation in the 19th century, the designer boldly removed some non-Gothic components and works of art, restoring part of the church to its original Gothic style.

St. Peter’s Basilica is a magnificent building in the smallest country

St. Peter’s Basilica was built between 1160 and 1232. It is the most impressive landmark building in the old city. The cathedral combines a variety of architectural styles: the original building was built in Romanesque style, and its arches were Gothic. The main entrance added in the 18th century has Greco-Roman columns and a dome similar to the Pantheon in Rome.

St. Peter's Basilica

There are 11 statues above the eaves below the church, with Jesus Christ in the middle; there is a clock on each side, with Greenwich Mean Time on the right and Greenwich Mean Time on the left. Rome time. There are 5 doors below the main hall, and tourists usually enter through the middle door. If there is an opportunity, believers can enter the hall through the holy door on the right, but this only happens once every 25 years. According to regulations, every Christmas Eve every 25 years, the Holy Door is opened and the Pope leads the way into the church, which means entering heaven. The other three gates are the "Sacramental Gate", the "Good and Evil Gate" and the "Death Gate". Entering the interior of St. Peter's Church, which can accommodate 50,000 people, through the middle door, what is in front of you is simply a treasure house of art. The roof and walls are decorated with paintings based on the Bible, many of which are works by famous artists. There are three main masterpieces of sculptural art that attract the most attention:

The first is Michelangelo's sculpture when he was 24 years old. The Virgin's grief as she held her dead son in her arms and her obedience to God's will are vividly depicted in the work. The agony of the Virgin shown here is completely different from that in Angelo's later works.

The second is Bernini’s sculptured bronze canopy. It is supported by four spiral copper pillars and is as high as a five-story building. 99 everlasting lamps are always lit on the semicircular railing in front of the canopy, and below is the pontifical altar and St. Peter's tomb. Only the pope can hold mass on this altar, facing the rising sun, in front of pilgrims. .

The third is the throne of St. Peter, which is also a gilded bronze throne designed by Bernini. Above the throne is a wooden chair with a radiant glory niche and ivory decorations. On the back of the chair are two little angels, holding the keys to the kingdom of heaven and the papal triple crown. Legend has it that this wooden chair is the real throne of St. Peter, and it was later verified that it was a gift from the Carolingian King Teja II.

In addition to these three art masterpieces, standing under the dome designed by Michelangelo and looking up, you will feel that everything in the lobby seems so small. The circumference of the dome is 71 meters, making it the highest point in Rome. Coming out of the church, there is a guard on the left side of the church. The unique uniforms they wear have not changed for 500 years and are said to have been designed by Michelangelo. The Changge in their hands is also a product of the 15th century.

Hidden beneath the cathedral is Europe's largest underwater monument open to the public. The monuments will allow visitors to understand how the cathedral evolved from a simple chapel to its current size.

In addition, you can also see many amazing wonders, such as the baptistery built in the 4th century AD and the exquisite mosaics in the 5th century AD that reflect different social classes in different periods.

The century-old construction of the Mexican Cathedral

The Mexican Cathedral (La Catedral de Mexico) is the largest and most important Catholic church in Mexico and one of the few famous churches in the Americas. Located on the north side of Zocalo Plaza in Mexico City. Construction of the cathedral began in 1573 and was officially completed after 1823. It took 250 years and is the longest in the architectural history of America.

Mexico Cathedral

This is a huge building made of basalt and gray sandy stone. The church has a traditional Latin cross layout, with one nave and two Side hall. In the side halls that cross the nave, there are many small altars and 7 chapels. Some of these chapels were later continuously processed and remodeled by artists from different artistic schools. The Royal Altar (or Royal Chapel) is the most beautiful building in the entire church.

The altar decoration is extremely exquisite and is a treasure of Chuligra's architectural art. The dome at the top of the altar is inlaid with various gold and silver jewelry and noble and gorgeous carvings. The semicircular niches are decorated with exquisite and intricate sculptures, as well as 20 religious paintings, all by the famous Mexican painter José Rodri. Gus Juarez's masterpiece. This altar is mainly designed for believers who worship the Virgin. There is a very beautiful ivory crucifix on the altar, a sterling silver cross, polished and shiny. The chapel also contains the remains of some Spanish governors during the colonial period.

The front of the church combines a variety of different architectural styles. The gray walls are reflected on the white marble, giving people a sense of harmony and solemnity. The towering pair of towers are neoclassical buildings and house the largest bell, called the Guadalupe Santa Maria Bell. This clock was cast in 1792. The bottom diameter is 3 meters, the height is 5 meters, and it weighs about 12 tons. The bell rings and can be heard 10 kilometers away. On the top of the two towers, there is a huge stone cross. There is an iron fence 13 meters long and 7 meters high outside the main entrance of the church. It is said that this is an alloy product of gold, silver and copper. It was a Chinese product that the then Governor of Mexico obtained from a Portuguese businessman in Macau. The main entrance of the church chapel, which stands side by side with the front of the church, is also a precious Baroque building. The walls are covered with delicate and luxurious sculptures, and the pilasters also have vivid statues and various decorative patterns.

Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, the largest church in the world

Which is the largest church in the world? Many people think it is the "St. Peter's Basilica" in the Vatican, but this answer is wrong.

Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace

If we must say that this is right, we can only add one condition in front, and that is: before 1989. Because, this year, on the African continent far away from the Vatican, another large-scale church, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, was built.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace is a Roman Catholic secondary church in Yamoussoukro, the administrative capital of C?te d'Ivoire. Construction began in 1985 and lasted 4 years, costing US$300 million and covering an area of ??30,000 square meters. It is four times as long as St. Peter's Church, 195 meters long and 158 meters high. Even in terms of height, this cathedral ranks second in the world, only 3.5 meters shorter than the tallest Gothic Ulm Cathedral in Germany.

When many people see the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, they can’t help but think of St. Peter’s Church. In fact, the design of the cathedral's dome and ring was inspired by, but not entirely imitated by, St. Peter's Church. For example, its dome is slightly lower than that of St. Peter's Church, and the cross on top is larger.

There are 7,000 seats in the church, and an additional 11,000 people can be accommodated in the standing room, which means that the total number of believers can be accommodated is 18,000. The costly church caused some controversy when construction began. The cost of the church doubled C?te d'Ivoire's national debt, but many Catholics in the country are proud of the church.

St Mary's Cathedral, the cultural center of Sydney

St Mary's Cathedral (St Mary's Cathedral) is located east of Sydney's famous Hyde Park. It is the largest and oldest in Australia. A religious building, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Sydney and was built on the site of Sydney's first Catholic church.

Santa Maria Cathedral

The cathedral is built of local sandstone. The "Gothic" architectural style is the architectural legacy of European medieval cathedrals. It was built in 1821, and Catholic priests officially came to Australia in 1820. Therefore, St. Mary's Cathedral is also known as the Mother Church of Australian Catholic Church (Mother Church of Australian Catholic Church). 1

The cathedral is 107 meters long, the nave is 24.3 meters wide, the ceiling is 22.5 meters high, the central tower is 46.3 meters high, and the height of the front tower and spire is 74.6 meters. St. Mary's Church is majestic and solemn inside. The floor pattern of Father Marrogo in the catacombs of the church is based on the theme of Genesis and is inlaid with colored gravel. It is world-famous for its exquisite craftsmanship. It is not only a precious heritage of the past, but also an important part of the spiritual and cultural life of the entire city and country today.

The interior of the church can be visited free of charge. Once you enter the church, you will be immediately infected by a solemn atmosphere.

Hagia Sophia Islamic Style Church

This is the only Hagia Sophia Mosque in the world that was converted from a temple into a church and from a church into a mosque. Hagia Sophia was built by Emperor Constantine in 330 AD. In the 6th century, Emperor Justinian remodeled the church into its current appearance. During the Ottoman Empire, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque with four towers erected around it.

Hagia Sophia

Before the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, Hagia Sophia was once the largest church in the world. During the 916-year rule of the Roman Empire, Hagia Sophia was the main church where all emperors were crowned. She was known as "the highest masterpiece of Byzantine architecture". In 1453, the Ottoman Empire captured Istanbul. Sultan Muhammad II turned it into a mosque and built four tall mosque minarets around it. It existed as a mosque for 481 years. When it was turned into a mosque, The exquisite mosaics on the inner walls of the church were originally covered up by paint. It was not until 1931 that an American expedition discovered the mosaics on the walls, and the true identity of the church was revealed to the world.

With its unique dome supported by two hemispherical arches, this majestic church is a treasure of ancient architecture and had a significant influence on future architecture. This exquisite building is famous in the world. In the 17th century, someone imitated the "Seven Wonders" put forward by the Phoenician Antipater BC and proposed the "Seven Wonders" of the modern world. Hagia Sophia is One of them.

Winding up from the dim, narrow gravel-paved passage on one side of the church, you can reach the two-story corridor that surrounds the three sides of the church. You can appreciate this glorious building from different spatial angles. cathedral. The ablution pool outside the church shows the color of Islam.

Beijing East Church

The East Church, also known as Wangfujing Catholic Church, was founded in 1655 by two priests, Li Leisi and Anwensi. The east hall is an Italian-style building, facing east and west, with a width of 25 meters and about 30 rooms. It is located on a bluestone base. There are 3 crosses on the top of the hall, 3 doors on the front and side doors on both sides. The hall is supported by 18 circular brick columns with a diameter of 65 cm and a square base. There are many oil paintings such as the Crucifixion of Jesus hanging on both sides of the hall. On the front of the east hall hangs the couplet "Providing great virtues to protect the people at home and abroad, honoring my father with great honors in ancient and modern times", and above it are the words "Benefit me from the East".

Beijing East Hall

The architectural form of the East Hall is rare in China.

Most of the windows are long strips, and the door openings are similar to those of traditional Chinese architecture, but they all show different tastes. The arrangement of bricks is sometimes vertical, sometimes horizontal, but never complicated. The carvings on the door are also different from those commonly seen in ordinary Chinese residential buildings. It is said that there is still a holy statue painted by Lang Shining in the hall. It's a pity that when I went there, I just didn't catch up with the opening of the church, so I didn't have the opportunity to enter it to listen to the divine voice and appreciate those strange cultural relics. Walking around the building, you can only guess how sacred and solemn such a tall and unique building must be inside. Its roof has the same cement railings, the same color as the walls, and the high and low places are staggered.

In the winter afternoon, occasionally a gentle woman leading her child will walk through, which makes the building even more spacious and charming. I feel that it is a place where the soul is extremely peaceful. You can feel it when you are outside. Get its mysterious call. After experiencing man-made and natural disasters, its pious spiritual temperament still has a strong appeal today.

The air seems to be still near this ancient building. You see those people busy choosing angles to take pictures and capture it with their lenses. It stands there alone, but you don’t feel it. It's so sudden that I feel that this is what time is like, and this is the true nature of history.

In the core area of ??Beijing, which is full of extreme Chinese elements, and in the bustling Wangfujing Street, it exists in a neither humble nor overbearing manner, accepting inquiries and worship, like flowing fashion. It has nothing to do with fashion and trends, but it actually seizes the limelight of all trends and fashions.

Guangzhou Sacred Heart Cathedral

Guangzhou Sacred Heart Cathedral is the most magnificent and distinctive cathedral in the Catholic Diocese of Guangzhou. The church was built in 1863 and completed in 1888. It took 25 years to complete and has a history of more than 130 years. Since all the walls and pillars of the church are made of granite, it is also called "Stone Chamber" or "Stone Chamber Sacred Heart Church" or "Stone Chamber Catholic Church". The Gothic architecture is comparable to Notre Dame de Paris.

Guangzhou Sacred Heart Cathedral

Only the church, the bishop's palace and the Yiduo Hall in the east remain of the Sacred Heart Cathedral. The church building can be divided into two parts: the front and rear parts: the first half is two spire stone towers. This Gothic architectural art has a strong religious color and meaning, symbolizing the religious thought of ascending to the sky and converting to God. The second half is the chapel, which is tall, round and large. Its top was originally a wooden truss structure, which was changed to the current reinforced concrete structure by the Frenchman Wei Changmao in 1929. The cornerstones are located on the east and west sides of the church: the east side is engraved with the Latin word "Jerusalem" and the west side is engraved with the word "Rome". The meaning is very obvious, meaning that Catholicism was founded in Jerusalem in the east and flourished in Rome in the west. In addition to the silver coins circulating in the Qing Dynasty and religious supplies hidden under the foundation stone, there are also clay blocks taken from Jerusalem and Rome by the founder of the church, French Bishop Ming Jizhang and Chinese youth "Ya Hai", each weighing 1 kilogram.

On the front of the church is a pair of towering twin pointed stone towers, high in the sky. On the west side of the middle of the stone tower is a large clock, and on the east side is a large bell tower, which contains four large bronze bells brought from France; inside the hall is an arched vault with pointed ribs and high forks; on the front door and on the surrounding walls are distributed The flowered window lattice is all in the palm-joined style, and all the doors and windows are inlaid with colorful glass made in France such as deeper red, yellow, blue, and green. This glass can prevent strong outdoor light from entering, keeping the indoor light soft all year round, creating a kind and solemn religious atmosphere.