There are a lot of unique and interesting things around us in our world today. I would like to share with you some of the unique churches I’ve discovered along the way.

Saint Basil’s Cathedral: The Red Square’s Colorful Church

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Located on the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, St. Basil’s a Russian Orthodox Church who’s cathedral domes sport series of colorful bulbous domes that taper to a point. Domes, like these, are called onion domes. This cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the capture of the Khanate of Kazan.

Temppeliaukio Kirkko: The Rock Church

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The Temppeliaukio Kirkko (Rock Church), is located in Helsinki., Finland. It was designed by brothers, Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and was completed in 1969. It is built completely underground and has a ceiling made of copper wire. They chose a rocky outcrop rising 40 feet above street level, and blasted the walls from the inside. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Helsinki.

Harajuku: Japanese Futuristic Church

Located in Tokyo, Japan is found a futuristic non Catholic Church that was created in 2005. The celing was designed specially to reverberate natural sound for 2 seconds to provide a unique listening experience.

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Hallgrímskirkja: Iceland ’s Most Amazing Church 

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Located in ReykjavAk, Iceland, this Lutheran parish is the 4th tallest archetectural structure at 244 feet. The Church is named after an Icelandic poet and author of Passion Hymns, HallgrAmur Patursson. It took 38 years to build, after it was commissioned in 1937.

Cathedral of Brasi­lia: The Modern Church of architect Oscar Niemeyer

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This Cathedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida, as it often was called, is found in the capital of Brazil. It was designed by Oscar Niemeyer and was finished on May 31, 1970. It has a concrete-framed hyperboloid structure with a glass roof that reaches up to heaven.

Chapel of St-Gildas: Built into the Base of a Bare Rocky Cliff

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The Chapel of St. Gildas is found upon the bank of the Canal du Blavet in Brittany, France. This was once a holy place for the Druids in AD 540 where Gildas preached Christianity to the people.

St. Joseph Church: Known for its Thirteen Gold Domed Roof

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The St. Joseph Church can be found in Chicago, Illinois. Mostly known for its 13 gold doomed roofs, it was built in 1956. The 13 gold domes symbolize the 12 Apostles and Jesus Christ as the largest center dome. The interior is completely adorned with frescoes (Byzantine style icons).

Ruzica Church: Where Chandeliers are made of Bullet Shells

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Located over the Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade, Serbia, the Ruzica Church is decorated with trench art. The chandeliers are made of bullet casings, swords, and cannon parts. Prior to becoming a church, this was once used by Turks as gunpowder storage until after WW1.

Borgund Church: Best Preserved Stave Church

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This is the best preserved stave church in Norway. It was built towards the end of the 12th century.  It hasn’t had any major reconstruction, unlike the other 27 stave churches found throughout Norway.

 Las Lajas Cathedral: A Gothic Church Worthy of a Fairy Tale

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Built in 1916 in southern Colombia inside the canyon of the Guaitara River. There is a legend that tells of a woman who carried her deaf-mute daughter on her back as she climbed up the mountain. When she took a rest, her daughter spoke for the first time. She talked about an apparition in the cave. Later on, a painting of the Virgin Mary carrying a baby was discovered on the cave wall. This painting was impregnated in the rock itself for several feet. because of this legend, this church was formed in the exact location.