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 cross
The Russian Orthodox Cross (or just the Orthodox Cross by some Russian Orthodox traditions) is a variation of the Christian cross since the 16th century in Russia, although it bears some similarity to a cross with a bottom crossbeam slanted the ...
es 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 is symbolical. One dome is a symbol of
Christ
Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...
or God, three domes are symbolic of
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God th ...
, five domes symbolize Christ and
Four Evangelists, seven domes are often used because seven is a holy number, and thirteen domes correspond to Christ and his
twelve Apostles
In Christian theology and ecclesiology, the apostles, particularly the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Twelve Disciples or simply the Twelve), were the primary disciples of Jesus according to the New Testament. During the life and minist ...
. Other numbers are also encountered.
An Orthodox church building may also have a
bell tower or
zvonnitsa
A zvonnitsa (russian: звонница; uk, дзвіниця, dzvinytsia; pl, dzwonnica parawanowa; ro, zvoniţă) is a large rectangular structure containing multiple arches or beams that support bells, and a basal platform where bell ringers ...
, either a part of the main church building, or standalone structure. Typically, 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
zvonnitsa
A zvonnitsa (russian: звонница; uk, дзвіниця, dzvinytsia; pl, dzwonnica parawanowa; ro, zvoniţă) is a large rectangular structure containing multiple arches or beams that support bells, and a basal platform where bell ringers ...
s.
Churches and Cathedrals
Bell towers
See also
*
List of tallest churches
This list of tallest church buildings ranks church buildings by height. From the Middle Ages until the advent of the skyscraper, Christian church buildings were often the world's tallest buildings. From 1311, when the spire of Lincoln Cathedr ...
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List of tallest domes
This is a list of the tallest domes in the world. The dome can be measured by various criteria. There are different types of domes. Many of the tallest domes have a Roof lantern, lantern. Strictly speaking, the lantern is not part of the dome, b ...
*
List of tallest buildings in Russia
*
List of Russian church types
Russian churches often have various recurrent elements in their architecture. The onion dome is for example a recurrent and important element in the architecture of Russian churches. Often Russian churches have also multi-colored filigree ornament ...
*
List of large Orthodox cathedrals
References
{{TBSW
Eastern Orthodox, tallest
Eastern Orthodox
Eastern Orthodoxy, also known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity, is one of the three main branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholicism and Protestantism.
Like the Pentarchy of the first millennium, the mainstream (or " canonical ...
Churches, tallest
Eastern Orthodox churches, tallest