Catholic cathedral

Bishop's grand church

A Catholic cathedral is the principal church of a diocese, where a bishop has his official seat—the cathedra, a throne symbolizing teaching authority.

Cathedrals serve as centers of diocesan worship and administration, often architecturally grand: Notre-Dame is perhaps the world's most famous Catholic cathedral.

Not every large or ornate Catholic church is a cathedral; the designation depends on the bishop's presence, not size.

Related

bishop · mass · stained glass · high altar · gothic · flying buttress · bell tower · church bells · sanctuary · holy water · votive candles · pews · crucifix · dome · pope · diocese · incense · choir

Categories
Opposites
religious affiliation

Catholic cathedralProtestant church

Non-Catholic Christian congregation

mosque · synagogue · Hindu temple · Buddhist temple · Orthodox cathedral

architectural scale and ecclesiastical rank

Catholic cathedralhome altar

Private space for worship

prayer closet · house church · storefront church · private chapel · wayside shrine

sacred vs. secular space

Catholic cathedralshopping mall

Large indoor retail center

nightclub · casino · factory · strip club · convention center

Family

catholic, cathedral, catholicity, cathedrals

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G