The first Christians in the era of Ancient Rome gathered in underground shelters (catacombs), where they also arranged primitive prayer rooms. Subsequently, when Christianity ceased to be persecuted, became the dominant religion, the need for such precautions disappeared. Temples began to be built to worship. Their size and decoration depended on many reasons: economic, political, social. There are frequent cases when the construction was stretched for a very long time.
Instruction manual
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From the point of view of religion, any consecrated temple, even to the most modest roadside chapel, is equally dear and pleasing to God. Nonetheless, an unspoken "ranking card" also operates here. If for some reason the temple has a special status, then it can be awarded the title of cathedral. Well, and if it is in this temple that the bishop performs church services - the head of the local administrative-territorial unit (diocese), for which a special place of honor is assigned - the pulpit, such a cathedral is called a "cathedral".
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Formally, the bishop can choose any temple of his choice as his residence, even the most ordinary, unremarkable. However, since the very status of the cathedral automatically implies that during the services there will be a large number of people, bishops usually chose the most spacious and magnificent buildings. Many of them are real masterpieces of architecture, historical monuments, still attracting a huge number of not only believers, but also lay people, tourists from all over the Earth.
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Most of the cathedrals of Western Europe were built in the Gothic style. Perhaps the most famous of them, famous in many books and films - Notre Dame de Paris - Notre Dame Cathedral. Another French cathedral, Notre Dame de Reims, where coronations of the kings of France took place in the Middle Ages, is amazingly beautiful. The magnificent cathedral in Florence is Santa Maria del Fiore. Contrary to popular belief, the most "important" Catholic cathedral - St. Peter in Rome - is not a cathedral. Which does not reduce the number of visitors who want to look at this miracle.
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In Russia, the status of the cathedral have many cathedrals. For example, in Moscow - the famous Cathedral of Christ the Savior and Epiphany - the residence of the Patriarch. In St. Petersburg - Kazan Cathedral, the creation of the architect Voronikhin. In Novgorod the Great - St. Sophia Cathedral. Most of the Russian cathedrals are built in accordance with Byzantine traditions, in more strict, seasoned tones, but also magnificent.
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