World’s Most Unique Religious Houses

Wat Phra Dhammakaya

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The peculiar-looking Buddhist temple called Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani Province, Thailand was established on Magha Puja Day, 20 February 1970.

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This magnificent and uniquely designed edifice was built on a 320,000 m² plot of land and was completed in 1982.

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The Hallgrímskirkja

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This beautiful church is located in the capital of Iceland – Reykjavik. It is a Lutheran parish church called ‘The Hallgrimskirkja’ which literally means ‘The Church of Hallgrimur. It is the largest religious edifice in Iceland with a height of 74.5 meters.

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The architectural design of this unique church was derived from the basalt lava flows of the country’s landscape. Construction of the church started in 1945 and was completed only in 1986. Its magnificent tower is visible throughout Reykjavik.

Kiji Enclos

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These intricately designed structures are located in Kizhi, an island on Lake Onega in the Republic of Karelia, Russia. The area inside the perimeter wall called Kizhi Pogost includes 2 uniquely-designed wooden churches and a bell-tower.

The 37 meter tall wooden structure called Transfiguration Church on the right (see above photo) has 22 domes and was built in 1714. The smaller church with 10 domes on the left is called Intercession Church and was built in 1764. The bell tower on the center was constructed in 1874. Transfiguration Church is also known as Summer Church while Intercession Church is also known as Winter Church. Kizhi was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Russia.

Shrine of the Book

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The Dead Sea Scrolls which were discovered from 1947 to 1956 were the most important religious documents ever discovered. They are now kept on “The Shrine of the Book”, a wing of the Israel Museum in Israel. The shrine is built as a white dome, covering a structure placed two-thirds below the ground. The dome is reflected in a pool of water that surrounds it.

Hechal Yehuda Synagogue

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The unique-looking Hechal Yehuda Synagogue or simply known as the Recanati Synagogue in Israel is one of the hundreds of synagogues in the city of Tel Aviv. This religious edifice is sometimes referred to as the Seashell Synagogue due to its peculiar shape that is similar to a seashell. The design is inspired by the seashells on the shores of Thessaloniki, Greece.

St. Nicholas's Church

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Wooden churches are quite impressive for their durability like the St. Nicholas’ Church in Ukraine. This traditional tripartite timber church is the centerpiece of the Lviv Museum of Folk Architecture and Culture. This wooden structure was originally built in 1763 in Kryvka Village but was transferred in Lviv in 1930. More than 300 years had past but this wooden church is still standing.

Sameba (Trinity) Cathedral

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Orthodox churches are all awesome for their intricate architectural designs. One fine example is the Sameba Cathedral or Tbilisi Holy Trinity Cathedral. It is located in the capital of Georgia. The cathedral stands on the Elia Hill on the left bank of Kura River. The 7.5 meter high cross on top of its dome is covered with gold. Surprisingly, the Cathedral is consists of 9 chapels, 5 of them situated in a large underground compartment.

Las Lajas Sanctuary

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Las Lajas Sanctuary, a basilica church, is built in one of the most unusual location – inside the canyon of the Guaitara River in Nariño, Columbia. This religious house was built in 1916 and was completed in 1946. It is a fine example of Gothic revival architecture.

Church of the Holy Spirit

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Orthodox churches from all over the world are famous for their unique structural designs. A good example is the Church of the Holy Spirit located in Bialystok, Poland. It is regarded as the largest Orthodox house of worship in the country.

Bahai House of Worship

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Bahai temples from all over the world are all uniquely designed like the Bahai Temple in Panama City, Panama. This astounding piece of architecture with a uniquely designed dome was constructed on a high cliff overlooking Panama City and was completed in 1972. The temple is the mother temple in all of Latin America. The temple’s impressive entrance are constructed in a unique three-dimensional design each consisting of an equilateral triangle of three vertical posts with multiple rows of bars stretching between them at various angles, each row of which gradually changes from vertical to horizontal.

Prambanan

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The antique-looking but still grandiose-looking Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple compound in Java, Indonesia. This Hindu temple architecture with a 47 meter high central building was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

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Church of Saint Simeon Stylites

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Although nothing seems extraordinary with this roofless church called the Church of Saint Simeon Stylites, it is regarded as one of the oldest Christian churches in the world. This 5th century edifice is located about 30 km northwest of Aleppo, Syria. This well-preserved edifice is built on the site of the pillar of St. Simeon Stylites, a famed hermit monk.

Cologne Cathedral

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The astounding Cologne Cathedral in Germany is remarkable for having the tallest paired spires in the world. This exceptional work of human creative genius is a Catholic church is one of the country’s best-known architectural monuments. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The construction of the cathedral, which is dedicated to St. Peter and the Blessed Virgin Mary, started in1248 and was completed in 1880 after 600 years. Aside from its enormous twin spires, the cathedral is also remarkable for having the largest façade of any church in the world.

Gothic Chapel

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This unique and antique-looking Gothic Chapel which was built in the 15th century is located in The Chrobry Square in The Old Town of Police, a town in Pomerania, Poland.

Vang Stave Church

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I have always been an admirer of structures that were built of wood. The durable and splendid Vang Stave Church is originally built and erected in Vang, Norway around 1200 but it was transferred and re-erected in 1842 Poland. Plans to demolish the church didn’t materialize.  Instead it was saved and repaired.

Chapel in the Hill

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The unique and intricately designed ‘Chapel in the Hills’ in Rapid City, South Dakota in the US is an exact replica of Norway’s Borgund Stave Church. This Lutheran church which was built in 1969 includes an authentic log cabin museum that was built by a Norwegian gold prospector in the 1800s.

House of the Five Senses

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This is not actually a church but I included it on the list. The 52 meter high ‘House of the Five Senses’ is an extraordinary architectural structure located on the main entrance of Efteling Amusement Park in the Netherlands. This type of architectural design is based on the Indonesian Rumah Gadang style of the Minangkabau ethnic people.

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At 4,500 m², this wooden edifice has the largest reed roof in the world. Its 5 peaks on its roof symbolize the ‘Five Senses’ which stands for experiencing the Efteling.

See also

Famous and Historic Churches in the Philippines

Architecturally Unique Churches in the Philippines

Bizarre and Unique Architectural Designs of Houses of Worship

20 World’s Most Brilliantly Colored Religious Edifices

Amazingly Unique Architectural Designs of Houses of Worship

Fascinating Temples: World’s Architectural Wonders