List of tallest Eastern Orthodox church buildings

Peter and Paul Cathedral in Saint Petersburg, with its tallest Orthodox bell tower (122 m).

This is a list of tallest Orthodox church buildings in the world, all those higher than 70 metres.

Traditionally, an Orthodox church building is crowned by one or several domes with Orthodox crosses on the top of each. The overall height of the temple is measured by the highest point of the cross above the main temple.

The number of domes on individual churches often serve a symbolic purpose. One dome is a symbol of Christ or God, three domes are symbolic of Trinity, five domes symbolize Christ and Four Evangelists, seven domes reference the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church, and thirteen domes correspond to Christ and his twelve Apostles. Other numbers are also encountered.

An Orthodox church building may also have a bell tower or zvonnitsa, either a part of the main church building, or standalone structure. Typically, a bell tower is higher than the main temple.

This list is divided into two sections, one listing the highest temples and the other listing the highest bell towers or zvonnitsas.

Churches and Cathedrals

[edit]
Rank Height (m) Name Image Notes Years of
construction 		City Country
1 127
(135 m when the cross is installed) [1] 		People's Salvation Cathedral It is the tallest (127m), longest (126m) and largest (by volume (323,000 m3) and area (7,200 m2)) Orthodox church building in the world. It is located in central Bucharest, facing the same courtyard as the Romanian Parliament Building. 2010–present Bucharest  Romania
2 122.5[2] Peter and Paul Cathedral Three-level bell tower is a part of the church. It is crowned with a gilded spire. The figure of a flying angel is at the very top of the structure 1712–1733 Saint Petersburg  Russia
3 103.4[3] Cathedral of Christ the Saviour The original Cathedral had been built in 1839–1883, but was demolished during the Soviet period on Stalin's orders in 1931. Rebuilt once again, it is the main cathedral and second largest church building of the Russian Orthodox Church, having a capacity for some 10,000 people 1995–2000 Moscow  Russia
4 101.5[4] Saint Isaac's Cathedral A masterpiece of late Classicism
The largest church building in Russia (both by volume and area). Second largest Orthodox church building in the world (by volume[5] and by area[6]). 		1818–1858 Saint Petersburg  Russia
5 96[7] Khabarovsk Metropolitan Cathedral The location of the cathedral was chosen by the patriarch Alexis II of Moscow during the helicopter flight over Khabarovsk 2001–2004 Khabarovsk  Russia
6 95 Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces Main temple of the Russian Armed Forces1.jpg 2018-2020 Odintsovsky District  Russia
7 93.7[8] Smolny Cathedral of the Resurrection The original project also included the 140-metre-high standalone bell tower, that was never built 1751–1835 Saint Petersburg  Russia
8 90.5[9] Timișoara Orthodox Cathedral Located in the very center of the city. The second tallest church in Romania 1934–1946 Timișoara  Romania
9 87.1[10] Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi The main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church 1995–2002 Tbilisi  Georgia
10 87[11] Alexander Nevsky Novoyarmarochny Cathedral Located on the spit of Oka and Volga rivers. Built in commemoration of the visit of Nizhny Novgorod Fair by Emperor Alexander II of Russia 1867–1880 Nizhny Novgorod  Russia
11 85[12] Saint Trinity Cathedral in Baia Mare Tallest cathedral in Maramureș, Romania 2003– Baia Mare  Romania
12 85[13] Annunciation Cathedral in Voronezh Built in the Russian Revival style in Pervomaysky (former City) Garden – a place where never before was the church 1998–2009 Voronezh  Russia
13 82[14] Cathedral of the Nativity Located in Mărășești-Zamca neighbourhood, near the city center. The tallest cathedral in the Moldavia region. 1991–2015 Suceava  Romania
14 81[15] Church of the Savior on Blood The name refers to the blood of Tsar Alexander II of Russia, who was assassinated on that site in 1881. Also known as the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ 1883–1907 Saint Petersburg  Russia
15-16 80[16] Trinity Cathedral, Saint Petersburg The dome was reconstructed after the 2006 fire 1828–1835 Saint Petersburg  Russia
15-16 80[17] Annunciation Cathedral in Kharkiv In 1997 a fire damaged the dome and the cross of the bell tower 1888–1901 Kharkiv  Ukraine
17 79[18] Church of Saint Sava Located on the place where the remains of Saint Sava are thought to have been burned in 1595 by the Ottoman Empire's Sinan Pasha 1935–2004 Belgrade  Serbia
18 78[19] Trinity Cathedral in Pskov Located in the Pskov Krom (or Kremlin) 1682–1699 Pskov  Russia
19 78[20] Săpânța-Peri Monastery Tallest wooden church in the world 1998–2003 Săpânța  Romania
20 77[21] Transfiguration Cathedral in Nikolo-Ugresh monastery The monastery was often visited by the young Peter I of Russia. The cathedral is the main one in the monastery and has a space for some 7000 people. 1880–1894 Dzerzhinsky  Russia
21 76[22] Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan in Stavropol Located at the highest point of the city. Stavropol  Russia
22 75.6[23] Trinity Cathedral in Morshansk 1836–1857 Morshansk  Russia
23 75[24] Dormition Cathedral in Astrakhan Located inside the Astrakhan kremlin 1698 Astrakhan  Russia
24 74.6[25] Ascension Cathedral in Novocherkassk Cathedral of the Don Cossacks Army[26] 1805–1905 Novocherkassk  Russia
25–26 74[27] All Saints Monument Church Monument Church dedicated to All Saints and the memory of those who unjustly perished[28] Minsk  Belarus
25–26 74[29] Ascension Cathedral in Yelets Inside the cathedral there is a rich iconostasis with gilded wood carvings 1845–1889 Yelets  Russia
27 73[30] Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Kaliningrad Located on the central square of the city 2004–2006 Kaliningrad  Russia
28 72[31] St. Michael's Cathedral in Cherkasy Built in the Neo-Byzantine style, 136 metres tall belfry under construction 1994–2002 Cherkasy  Ukraine
29 71.5[32] Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg According to the wishes of the Emperor Paul of Russia, the cathedral was modelled after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome 1801–1811 Saint Petersburg  Russia
30 70.6[33] Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt The cathedral was designed especially high to serve as a landmark for those in the sea 1902–1913 Kronstadt  Russia
31-33 70[34] Cathedral of the Lord's Ascension, Bacău Still in construction 1991– Bacău  Romania
31-33 70[35] Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Built in the style of classicism 1818–1823 Izhevsk  Russia
31-33 ~ 70[36] St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral in Peterhof Modelled after St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, but has a more pyramidal form 1894–1904 Peterhof  Russia

Bell towers

[edit]
Rank Height (m) Name Image Notes Years of
construction 		Location
1 122,5[2] Peter and Paul Cathedral The three-level bell tower is part of the church. It is crowned with a gilded spire. The figure of a flying angel is at the very top of the structure. 1712–1733 Saint Petersburg
 Russia
2 116[37] Transfiguration Cathedral in Rybinsk Five-storey bell tower crowned by a gilded spire. 1797–1804 Rybinsk
 Russia
3 107[38] Monastery of Our Lady of Kazan Tallest Christian structure in the Central Federal District of Russia. 2009–2011[39] Tambov
 Russia
4 106[40] Resurrection Cathedral in Shuya A standalone Orthodox bell tower. Tallest in the Ivanovo Oblast. 1810–1832 Shuya
 Russia
5 97[41] Annunciation Cathedral Built in the Pseudo-Russian style. 1998–2009 Voronezh
 Russia
6 96,52[42] Great Lavra Belltower Located in the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, part of a World Heritage Site 1731–1745 Kyiv
 Ukraine
7 93,7[43] Peter and Paul Church The highest rural bell tower in Russia. Porechye-Rybnoye
Yaroslavl Oblast
 Russia
8 93[44] Nikolo-Ugresha monastery The bell tower is adjacent to the other buildings of the monastery. 1758–1763, rebuilt in
в 1859 г. 		Dzerzhinsky
 Russia
9 90,3[45] Nikolo-Berlyukovsky Monastery In old Russian measures, the height of the bell tower is equal to 127 arshin and 4 vershoks. 1895–1899 the village of Avdotyino
Moscow Oblast
 Russia
10 89,5[46] Assumption Cathedral in Kharkiv About 3.5 million bricks and 65.5 tons of iron were used for construction. 1821–1841 Kharkiv
 Ukraine
11 88[47] Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius Five-storey bell tower. 1740–1770 Sergiyev Posad
 Russia
12 83,2[48] Assumption Cathedral in Ryazan Built by several different architects. Located in the Ryazan Kremlin. 1789–1840 Ryazan
 Russia
13 82[49] All Saints Cathedral in Tula At the corners of the first level there are sculptures of angels with trumpets. 1776–1825 Tula
 Russia
14 81,6[50] Saint Trinity Monastery in Alatyr The bell tower is included in the Russian Book of Records. the monastery is founded in 1584 Alatyr
 Russia
15–16 81[51] Ivan the Great Bell Tower Located on Cathedral Square in the Moscow Kremlin. 1532–1543 Moscow
 Russia
15–16 81[52] Saint Assumption Sarov Monastery In good weather the buildings of the Serafimo-Diveevsky Monastery can be seen from the bell tower. 1789–1799 Sarov
 Russia
17 80[53] John the Evangelist Monastery in Poschupovo The monastery is situated on the right bank of the Oka River. 1901 Poschupovo, Ryazan Oblast
 Russia
18 79.9[54] Dormition Cathedral in Astrakhan Kremlin The height of the bell tower is 37 sazhen. The cross is 7 metres high. Astrakhan
 Russia
19 79.5[55] John the Baptist Church The bell tower was built in the Neo-Byzantine style after the project of engineer Kulchitsky. Sponsored by the merchant Diomid Mitrofanovich Khutaryov. 1891–1895 Serpukhov District of Moscow Oblast
 Russia
20 78.5[56] St. Sophia Cathedral in Vologda The bells of the tower were made by Dutch, Russian and German bellmakers in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. 1869–1870 Vologda
 Russia
21 78[57] Novospassky Monastery The monastery played a crucial role in repelling the attack of Crimean Tatars in 1591. 1759–1795 Moscow
 Russia
22 77[58] Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa The bells are controlled by an electronic device capable of playing some 99 melodies. 2000–2001 Odesa
 Ukraine
23–24 76[59] Resurrection Cathedral in Kashin The church is under restoration. 1816–1886 Kashin
 Russia
23–24 76[60] Bell Tower of Saint Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv Part of a World Heritage Site Kyiv
 Ukraine
25 75,6[61] Tobolsk Kremlin bell tower The only stone kremlin in Siberia. 1794–1809 Tobolsk
 Russia
26–28 75[62] Cathedral of the Nativity of the Theotokos The bell ringing is heard in the radius of 42 versts around the tower. Rostov-on-Don
 Russia
26–28 75[63] St. Nicholas Church in Venyov The church was demolished in 1950s but the bell tower still stands. 1801–1843 Venyov
 Russia
26–28 ~75[64] The Church of Saint Myrrhbearers in Kaluga The construction cost was 64,500 rubles. 1818–1820 Kaluga
 Russia
29 74,5[65] The Flooded Belfry Now the bell tower stands amid the waters of the Uglich Reservoir, which covered the old city center of Kalyazin in 1939. 1796–1800 Kalyazin
 Russia
30 74[66] Epiphany Cathedral in Kazan There is a temple on the second level of the bell tower. 1895–1897 Kazan
 Russia
31–34 72[67] Novodevichy Convent The bell tower consist of six octagonal levels. 1690 Moscow
 Russia
31–34 72[68] Monastery of the Deposition in Suzdal The bell tower was built to commemorate the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812. 1813–1819 Suzdal
 Russia
31–34 72[69] Cathedral of Saint George the Martyr The total weight of the bells is 18.5 tons. 1848–1872 Odintsovo
 Russia
31–34 72[70] Valaam Monastery The monastery is situated on the Valaam Archipelago in Karelia. 1896 Valaam
 Russia
35 70,3[71] Serafimo-Diveevsky Monastery In Soviet times the bell tower was used for TV transmissions. 1848–1872 Diveyevo, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast
 Russia
36–37 70[72] Ascension Monastery in Tambov 2007–2012 Tambov
 Russia
36–37 70 Trinity Cathedral in Gus-Zhelezny Built in the, rare for Russia, Gothic Revival style. 1802–1868 Gus-Zhelezny
 Russia

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "În ce stadiu se află Catedrala Mântuirii Neamului, monumentala construcție care a costat până acum 185 de milioane de euro. Se muncește din greu la mozaicul venețian". Observator (in Romanian). Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b Петропавловский собор (in Russian)
  3. ^ Основные размеры Храма Христа Спасителя (in Russian)
  4. ^ Исаакиевский собор Archived 6 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  5. ^ "FOTO Catedrala Mântuirii Neamului, faţă în faţă cu cele mai mari şi mai frumoase biserici din lume". adevarul.ro. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Biggest Cathedral in the Middle East to be Inaugurated in New Administrative Capital". Egyptian Streets. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  7. ^ Спасо-Преображенский кафедральный собор в Хабаровске (in Russian)
  8. ^ Музей четырёх соборов Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  9. ^ Catedrala Mitropolitană Timișoara (in Romanian)
  10. ^ Nave+Cross= 87.1 m. The height of bottom floor (underground chapel) is 13.1 m. There is some dispute over the height of the top cross. The look of relief will be calculated as a whole, not just a small part. The eastern side is raised and lowered in the west (River Kura). We have 80% of the side "level ground", and 20% "slope". These 20% are leveled with the rest of the territory. This case is similar to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow (the height of bottom floor is 17 from River Moscow). In this case the height bottom floor, not be taken into account.
  11. ^ Собор Александра Невского Archived 12 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  12. ^ ro:Catedrala Sfânta Treime din Baia Mare Catedrala_Sfânta_Treime_din_Baia_Mare (in Romanian)
  13. ^ Названа дата официального открытия Благовещенского собора в Воронеже ИА "Regnum" 9 November 2009 г. (in Russian)
  14. ^ Catedrala din Suceava a fost sfinţită (in Romanian)
  15. ^ Храм Воскресения Христова на Крови (in Russian)
  16. ^ Троице-Измайловский собор Archived 6 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  17. ^ Харьков. Кафедральный собор Благовещения Пресвятой Богородицы Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  18. ^ Храм светог Саве (in Serbian)
  19. ^ Троицкий собор в Псковском Кремле. (in Russian)
  20. ^ "World's tallest wooden church: Săpânța-Peri Monastery". www.worldrecordacademy.org. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  21. ^ Собор Спаса Преображения (in Russian)
  22. ^ Собор Казанской иконы Божией Матери (Ставрополь) Archived 17 July 2012 at archive.today (in Russian)
  23. ^ Свято-Троицкий собор (in Russian)
  24. ^ Успенский собор в Астрахани (in Russian)
  25. ^ Вознесенский кафедральный собор Archived 5 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  26. ^ Чудеса России. Вознесенский Войсковой Кафедральный собор Archived 4 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  27. ^ Храм – Памятник в честь Всех Святых в память безвинно убиенных во Отечестве нашем[permanent dead link‍] (in Russian)
  28. ^ Всехсвятский храм-памятник Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine(in Russian)
  29. ^ Елец. Вознесенский собор. (in Russian)
  30. ^ Собор Христа Спасителя в Калининграде (in Russian)
  31. ^ Свято-Михайловский Собор Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  32. ^ Казанский собор в Санкт-Петербурге (in Russian)
  33. ^ Морской Никольский собор (in Russian)
  34. ^ [1] (in Romanian)
  35. ^ Ижевск. Кафедральный собор Александра Невского Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  36. ^ Собор Петра и Павла (in Russian)
  37. ^ Спасо-Преображенский собор
  38. ^ В Тамбове патриарх освятил самую высокую колокольню
  39. ^ На колокольню Казанского монастыря в Тамбове установлен позолоченный крест | Тамбовская митрополия Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  40. ^ Колокольня Воскресенского собора Archived 26 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  41. ^ "Названа дата официального открытия Благовещенского собора в Воронеже".
  42. ^ Великая лаврская колокольня Archived 15 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  43. ^ Историческая справка о селе Поречье-Рыбное (in Russian)
  44. ^ Николо-Угрешский монастырь. Дзержинский – История (in Russian)
  45. ^ Николаевская Берлюковская пустынь (in Russian)
  46. ^ Успенский собор (in Russian)
  47. ^ Троице-Сергиева лавра Archived 17 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  48. ^ Рязанский Кремль (in Russian)
  49. ^ Всехсвятский Кафедральный собор (in Russian)
  50. ^ Свято-Троицкий монастырь Archived 14 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  51. ^ Кремлевская колокольня и ее история (in Russian)
  52. ^ Свято-Успенская Саровская пустынь[permanent dead link‍] (in Russian)
  53. ^ Иоанно-Богословский Пощуповский монастырь Archived 4 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  54. ^ Успенский кафедральный собор (in Russian)
  55. ^ "«Ока-Инфо» - Общественно-политическая газета Серпуховского региона - Самая высокая колокольня Подмосковья ждет свой крест" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  56. ^ Архитектура города Вологды Archived 16 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  57. ^ Новоспасский монастырь (in Russian)
  58. ^ Спасо-Преображенский кафедральный собор (in Russian)
  59. ^ Воскресенский собор (in Russian)
  60. ^ Колокольня Киево-Софийского собора (in Russian)
  61. ^ Тобольский кремль/Архитектура (in Russian)
  62. ^ Рождества Пресвятой Богородицы собор Archived 9 September 2012 at archive.today (in Russian)
  63. ^ Николаевская церковь (колокольня) (Тульская обл., г. Венёв) Archived 27 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  64. ^ Церковь св. Жен-Мироносиц Archived 4 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  65. ^ Колокольня (Свято-Никольский собор) (in Russian)
  66. ^ Богоявленский собор Archived 25 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  67. ^ Новодевичий монастырь Archived 23 May 2005 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  68. ^ Ризоположенский монастырь (in Russian)
  69. ^ Собор Святого Великомученика Георгия Победоносца (in Russian)
  70. ^ Валаамский монастырь (in Russian)
  71. ^ Свято – Троицкий Серафимо – Дивеевский женский монастырь Archived 19 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  72. ^ На колокольню Вознесенского храма Вознесенского монастыря установлен золотой купол с крестом | Тамбовская епархия Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
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