Table of Contents
Who was the basilica named after?
Peter. The basilica is named after Peter, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles in the Bible. He originally was known as Simon and was a poor fisherman.
Where does the word basilica come from?
The Latin word basilica derives from Ancient Greek: βασιλική στοά, romanized: basilikḗ stoá, lit. ‘royal stoa’. The first known basilica—the Basilica Porcia in the Roman Forum—was constructed in 184 BC by Marcus Porcius Cato (the Elder).
Why might the pope name a building a basilica?
The title gives the church certain privileges, principally the right to reserve its high altar for the pope, a cardinal, or a patriarch, and special penitential privileges that remove the basilica from local geographical jurisdiction and give it international status.
What is difference between basilica and church?
A basilica is a church with certain privileges conferred on it by the Pope. Not all churches with “basilica” in their title actually have the ecclesiastical status, which can lead to confusion, since it is also an architectural term for a church-building style. Such churches are referred to as immemorial basilicas.
What is the difference between a Catholic cathedral and a basilica?
The difference between Basilica and Cathedral is that a Basilica is considered as the higher Church authority and it is divided into Basilicas major and Basilicas minor. A Cathedral is a Church that is run only by the Bishop in an area which comes under the bishop’s jurisdiction.
What is the largest basilica in the world?
List
Name | Area (m2) | Notes |
---|---|---|
Interior | ||
St. Peter’s Basilica | 15,160 | Largest church in the world |
Basilica of Our Lady Aparecida | 12,000 | Largest cathedral in the world. |
Milan Cathedral | 11,700 |