<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Christian Churches]]></title><description><![CDATA[Articles]]></description><link>http://www.churchexplorer.org/</link><copyright><![CDATA[Copyright Christian Churches]]></copyright><generator>sNews CMS</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Basilica Lichen Stary, Poland]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lichen is a Roman Catholic Church located in a village called Stary Lichen, near Konin 
the capital of the province Greater Poland. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lichen is devoted to the Virgin Mary who 
according to the legend revealed herself to a Polish soldier and a shepherd in 19th century. The location of the 
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lichen is closely connected with mentioned legends and the miraculous image of the Virgin 
Mary. In 1852 the revelations were examined by a special episcopal committee which decided to move the portrait of 
the Virgin Mary to the parish church in Lichen. During the World War II the church was turned into a seat of the Youth 
Nazi Organization but the portrait of the Virgin Mary was removed and hidden.     
      
After the World War II the Marianists restored the parish at Lichen from the war damage and despite the opposition of 
the communist authorities the Primate of Poland crowned the miraculous image of Our Lady of Sorrows, Queen of Poland 
or Virgin of Lichen in 1967.     
The present Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lichen was constructed between 1994 and 2004 and presents the largest church in 
Poland. The Sanctuary was consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1999 and is visited by numerous pilgrims every year. By  
some estimations the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lichen is visited even by one Million pilgrims by year. ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 30 Aug 2007 11:41:22 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.churchexplorer.org/catholic-basilicas/basilica-lichen-stary-poland/</link><guid>http://www.churchexplorer.org/catholic-basilicas/basilica-lichen-stary-poland/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Roskilde Cathedral, the Island of Zealand, Denmark]]></title><description><![CDATA[      
The Roskilde Cathedral in the city of Roskilde in the Island of Zealand, Denmark, is located on the ridge at the 
very heart of Roskilde fjord. The protestant Brick Gothic style cathedral is also inscripted in the UNESCO World 
Heritage Site.    
According to the historian Adam of Bremen the first church on the place of current Roskilde Cathedral was built 
around year 980. On the same place was in the 11th century former wooden church replaced by the stone church and 
around 1080 a new church which was built by Bishop Absalon was consecrated. Present Brick Gothic style 
cathedral was built during the 12th and 13th centuries. The Roskilde Cathedral incorporates both Romanesque and 
Gothic style and is the oldest cathedral in Denmark.    
Since 15th century the Roskilde Cathedral was the main burial site for Danish monarchs and for that reason many burial 
chapels were added beside or in the Roskilde Cathedral until the 20th century. The interior of the Roskilde Cathedral 
is besides frescoes from 1511, choir stalls from 1420, and impressive three-winged altarpiece from 1560 best known for 
the Danish royal tombs of 21 kings and 18 queens in four large royal chapels.]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:09:39 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.churchexplorer.org/evangelical-lutheran-cathedrals/roskilde-cathedral-the-island-of-zealand-denmark/</link><guid>http://www.churchexplorer.org/evangelical-lutheran-cathedrals/roskilde-cathedral-the-island-of-zealand-denmark/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Canterbury Cathedral, England]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, England, is one of the oldest Christian churches in England and the Anglican 
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primate of All England and religious leader of the Church of England. The Cathedral is 
located at the centre of Canterbury and is also inscribed in the World Heritage Site.     
      
The Canterbury Cathedral was founded by St Augustine who arrived in Canterbury in year 597 as a missionary and was the 
Cathedral's first Archbishop. The original Cathedral was rebuilt by the Saxons and after the fire of 1174 the Cathedral 
was rebuilt in a Gothic style. Over the next centuries was the Canterbury Cathedral rebuilt many times and many additions 
have been made. In the 19th century was replaced the original Norman Northwest Tower with a Perpendicular style twin of 
the Southwest tower. During the World War II the Neo-Gothic Library and Archives were destroyed by the Germans but the 
Cathedral itself was not seriously damaged.     
In 10th century the Cathedral community was reorganized as Benedictine Abbey during the reforms of Archbishop 
St Dunstan who was buried on the south side of the High Altar. In 1540 was the Benedictine monastery dissolved by King 
Henry VIII and responsibility for the services was given to group of clergy known as the Dean and Chapter. The head of 
the Canterbury Cathedral in still the Dean who is currently the Very Reverend Robert Willis.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 20 Aug 2007 10:22:10 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.churchexplorer.org/anglican-cathedrals/canterbury-cathedral-england/</link><guid>http://www.churchexplorer.org/anglican-cathedrals/canterbury-cathedral-england/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mount of Athos, Greece]]></title><description><![CDATA[      
The Mount of Athos or Holy Mountain is located on Chalcidice peninsula, Greece, but is a self-governed monastic state 
within the sovereignty of Greece. On the Mount Athos are 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries (17 Greek monasteries, 
1 Russian, 1 Bulgarian, and 1 Serbian) which are inscribed on the World Heritage List.    
The first monasteries on the Athos Mount were built in 10th century. The exact year of the first built monastery is 
not known but is widely assumed that the Great Lavra monastery as first was constructed around year 963. 

      
During 
the Byzantine Era the monasteries on the Athos Mount flourished until the 15th century when Byzantine Empire was 
conquered by the Ottomans. After the fall of Byzantine Empire the monks of the Athos Mount monasteries maintained 
good relations with the Ottoman authorities and preserved their independence.     

During the First Balkan War in 1912 the Mount Athos was captured from the Ottoman Empire by the Greeks but they came 
into conflict with Russia over its sovereignty. After World War I the Chalcidice peninsula and with it also the Athos 
Mount fell under Greek sovereignty. In 1926 Greek Government proclaimed the Athos Mount an official part of Greece but 
allowed the monasteries on the Athos Mount to retain an autonomous theocratic government but spiritually is the Athos 
Mount under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:13:38 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.churchexplorer.org/orthodox-monasteries/mount-of-athos-greece/</link><guid>http://www.churchexplorer.org/orthodox-monasteries/mount-of-athos-greece/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral, Cluj-Napoca, Romania]]></title><description><![CDATA[      
The Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, is a Romanian Orthodox Cathedral located on the Avram 
Iancu Square.
The Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral was built in a Romanian Brâncovenesc style after the Union of 
Transylvania with Romanian Kingdom between 1923 and 1933.    
Architects of the Dormition of the Theodokos Cathedral which was built with stone from Baciu and Bompotoc were George 
Cristinel and Constantin Pomponiu. The main dome of the Cathedral is surrounded by four Romanian Brâncovenesc style 
towers. The interior walls were painted by Anastasie Demian and Catul Bogdan.     
The Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral was opened in 1933 by the Patriarch of All Romania Miron Cristea, the 
Metropolitan of Transylvania Nicolae Balan and the Bishop of Cluj Nicolae Ivan. At the opening ceremony were also 
present King Carol II and Crown Prince Michael I. ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:28:52 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.churchexplorer.org/orthodox-cathedrals/dormition-of-the-theotokos-cathedral-clujnapoca-romania/</link><guid>http://www.churchexplorer.org/orthodox-cathedrals/dormition-of-the-theotokos-cathedral-clujnapoca-romania/</guid></item></channel></rss>