Top 10 Largest Churches In The World
2. Basilica Of The National Shrine Of Our Lady Of Aparecida, Aparecida, Brazil, 12000 square meters
The basilica of our lady of Aparecida is the second largest church in the world with a floor area of 12000 square meters. It is the most important Marian pilgrimage center in Brazil, located in the city of Aparecida. The enormous church can accommodate 45000 worshipers.
According to a mythology, a group of fishermen got a headless statue of Virgin Mary from Paraiba river while fishing in 1717. They also haul up the head of the statue on another cast of the nets. They brought the sculpture of Virgin Mary to their home . They housed the sculpture in shrine in 1945. It is believed to be the statue was sculptured by a Brazilian monk named Frei Agostino de Jesus.
A new church on the spot of old shrine was built between 1834 and 1888. Today’s version of cathedral built in 20th century. The towers of the church rise to 102 meters and its dome is 70 meters high.