What is basilica?

  • (noun): An early Christian church designed like a Roman basilica; or a Roman Catholic church or cathedral accorded certain privileges.
    Example: "The church was raised to the rank of basilica"
    See also — Additional definitions below

Basilica

The Latin word basilica (derived from Greek, βασιλική στοά, Royal Stoa, the tribunal chamber of a king), has three distinct applications in modern English. The word was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. By extension it was applied to Christian buildings of the same form and continues to be used in an architectural sense to describe those buildings with a central nave and aisles. Later, the term came to refer specifically to a large and important church that has been given special ceremonial rights by the Pope.

Read more about Basilica.

Some articles on basilica:

St. Peter's Baldachin
... Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the papal enclave surrounded by Rome ... and directly under the dome of the basilica ... Under its canopy is the high altar of the basilica ...
Ecclesiastical Basilicas - Ecclesiastical Basilicas By Region
... In 2010, 1588 churches bore the title of basilica ... Region Basilicas Europe 1187 Americas 327 Asia 49 Oceania 6 Africa 18 Total 1583 ...
Basilica Of St. John - Design - Exterior
... With its resemblance to the Church of the Holy Apostles, the Basilica of St ... The basilica was a domed basilica where the domes were placed over the central crossing, choir, transepts and the nave ... like the Church of the Holy Apostles, the Basilica of St ...
Basilica Of St. John
... The Basilica of St ... John was a basilica in Ephesus ... The basilica is on the slopes of Ayasoluk Hill just below the fortress near the center of Selçuk, İzmir Province, Turkey and about 3.5 km (2.2 mi) from Ephesus ...
List Of Gothic Architecture - Italy
... Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence Basilica of Santa Maria Novella Ca' d'Oro, Venice Casamari Abbey Castel del ...

More definitions of "basilica":

  • (noun): A Roman building used for public administration.

Famous quotes containing the word basilica:

    Christians are to be taught that the pope would and should wish to give of his own money, even though he had to sell the basilica of St. Peter, to many of those from whom certain hawkers of indulgences cajole money.
    Martin Luther (1483–1546)