The World’s Greatest Churches

Overview

Embark on a global journey through Christianity’s most breathtaking architectural masterpieces in this 24-lecture course, exploring sacred spaces from Jerusalem to Seoul.

Course No. 7842

From Byzantine domes to Gothic cathedrals and modernist marvels, discover how these iconic structures embody faith, artistry, and cultural identity across 19 countries and 5 continents.

Course Content

Ancient Foundations

1. The Earliest Churches (35 min)
   • Basilica architecture and early Christian worship spaces

2. Church of the Holy Sepulchre (31 min)
   • Jerusalem’s sacred site of Christ’s resurrection

3. Hagia Sophia (31 min)
   • Istanbul’s Byzantine masterpiece turned mosque

4. Cave Churches of Cappadocia (30 min)
   • Turkey’s mystical mountain-carved sanctuaries

Eastern Christian Traditions

5. Great Churches of Russia (31 min)
   • Gilded domes of Moscow and Vladimir

6. Painted Churches of Romania (32 min)
   • Biblical frescoes covering exterior walls

7. Armenian Stone Churches (31 min)
   • Intricate khachkars and vaulted domes

8. Georgian Sacred Art (30 min)
   • Gelati Monastery’s UNESCO-listed treasures

African & Middle Eastern Wonders

9. Rock-Hewn Churches of Ethiopia (32 min)
   • Lalibela’s monolithic wonders

10. Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba (30 min)
    • Spain’s stunning hybrid of faiths

European Masterpieces

11. Stave Churches of Norway (32 min)
    • Viking-era wooden architecture

12. Chartres Cathedral (32 min)
    • Gothic splendor and stained glass

13. St. Peter’s Basilica (32 min)
    • Michelangelo’s Renaissance dome

14. Wieskirche Rococo Jewel (32 min)
    • Bavaria’s “Church in the Meadow”

New World Expressions

• Latin American Sanctuaries (31 min)
  • Ecuador’s golden La Compañía

• Guadalupe Shrine (32 min)
  • Mexico’s fusion of indigenous and Catholic

17. American Landmarks (31 min)
    • From Quaker simplicity to National Cathedral

Modern Innovations

18. Sagrada Família (31 min)
    • Gaudí’s unfinished modernist vision

19. Iceland’s Hallgrímskirkja (31 min)
    • Lutheran simplicity meets volcanic inspiration

20. Seoul’s Korean Churches (35 min)
    • Blending Buddhism and Christianity