Cathedral facts for kids

Cathedral.

The chair of Bishop Broughton, first Anglican Bishop of Sydney, Australia.

A cathedral is a very important Christian church. It is special because it is where a Bishop has their official "seat" or "chair." Think of a bishop as a leader in certain Christian groups. Only Christian groups that have bishops, like the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutheran churches, have cathedrals.

Because a cathedral is the bishop's main church, it is the most important church in a specific area called a diocese. In the Greek Orthodox Church, people might also call these churches "metropolis." This word means "mother city," showing its central role.

Sometimes, a church might still be called a "cathedral" even if it no longer has a bishop. This can happen if the church's organization changed a long time ago. Also, because cathedrals are often very big and beautiful buildings, people sometimes mistakenly use the word for any large, impressive church.

Some famous churches in Europe, like those in York or Lincoln in England, are called "Minster" churches. This word comes from an old Latin word meaning "monastery." It means these churches were once part of a monastery or had priests living together in a community.

What is a Cathedral?

The word "cathedral" comes from the Latin word "cathedra." This word means "seat" or "chair." So, a cathedral is a church that has the special chair of a bishop or archbishop. This chair is a symbol of their leadership.

In ancient times, a chair was a sign of a teacher or an important official. For a bishop, their chair shows their role as a teacher of faith. It also shows their power in leading the churches in their diocese. The bishop's seat is a major symbol of their authority. Many cathedrals are very old buildings, some built hundreds of years ago.

Churches Called Cathedral Without a Bishop

Sometimes, a church is called a "cathedral" even if it is not currently the main church of a bishop. This can happen when the way a church is organized changes over time. For example, Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Poprad in Slovakia is called a cathedral in the local language. However, the main cathedral for its diocese, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spiš, is now St. Martin's Cathedral (Spišská Kapitula).

Churches that used to be the main church for a bishop might be called a "co-cathedral" or "pro-cathedral." This helps to show their past importance.

Images for kids

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  Nave and organ of the Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile d'Albi in Southern France

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  São Paulo Cathedral, a representative modern cathedral built in Neo-Gothic style.

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  Interior of St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Memphis, Tennessee with a procession.

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  The cathedra of the Pope as Bishop of Rome, Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran

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  The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is a Neoclassical Catholic cathedral in Nepi, Italy

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  Many cathedrals, such as the Notre-Dame de Paris, France, feature highly detailed stained glass windows

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  Most cathedrals, such as the Cologne Cathedral, Germany, serve as city landmarks

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  Battistero di San Giovanni in Pisa, Italy

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  The Palais de la Berbie, an episcopal palace in Albi, France

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  St. Martin's cathedral in Spišské Podhradie (Slovakia).

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  Bishop Ivo Muser in Urtijëi with pontifical vestments (mitre, pectoral cross, episcopal ring, and crosier)

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  St. John's Cathedral in Brisbane

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  The Patriarchal Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, Rome.

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  Former archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.

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  Aachen Cathedral, Germany, founded by Charlemagne in 800 AD, coronation place of the Holy Roman Emperor.

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  The cloister of Canterbury Cathedral with monastic buildings beyond

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  Nidaros Cathedral, Norway, became Lutheran at the Reformation

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  Metz Cathedral, France, was governed by a provost.

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  Chapter House of Oulu Cathedral, Finland

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  The stalls of St. Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny, Ireland, showing the bishop's throne and precentor's stall.

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  Interior of the Chapter House at Southwell Cathedral, England.

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  The 15th-century Porvoo Cathedral in Porvoo, Finland is quite well known from the Diet of Porvoo, when Tsar Alexander I of the Russian Empire granted Finland the status of Grand Duchy in 1809.

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  The Palace of the Bishops of Havelberg in Wittstock, Germany.

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  Many cathedrals are important landmarks. Cobh Cathedral, Ireland, rises up above the town.

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  Built at the beginning of the 19th century, the Neoclassical Kuopio Cathedral is one of the most important landmarks in Kuopio, which has also been immortalized in the city's coat of arms. Photo of the cathedral in winter 2019.

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  St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney has a typical cruciform plan.

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  Music is an important part of cathedral services. Choir practice at York Minster, England.

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  Organ of Sonntagberg Basilica, Lower Austria

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  The funeral of the Patriarch Alexy II in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Moscow

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  Cathedrals are important meeting places. After a service at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Sri Lanka

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  Some cathedrals are major tourist destinations and World Heritage Sites. Pisa is one of the best known.

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  Cathedrals often contain a wealth of artworks. Tourists visiting the interior of St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna.

See also

In Spanish: Catedral para niños