basilica
Nave and aisles
A basilica is a large, important church, especially one granted special ceremonial privileges by the Pope.
The term originally described an ancient Roman public building with a rectangular hall, side aisles, and a raised platform—an architectural form early Christians adopted for their places of worship.
Major basilicas like St.
Peter's in Rome hold the highest ecclesiastical status: We toured the basilica during our visit to the Vatican.
Church's main interior
- apseVaulted church recess
- transeptChurch's lateral wing
- colonnadeRow supporting a roof
- domeRounded vault forming roof
vault · altar · chancel · clerestory · crypt · ambulatory · narthex · atrium
Sacred devotional place
- relicsPreserved items from antiquity
- saintsCanonized religious figures
- pilgrimReligious journey-taker
- journeyTravel from place to place
devotion · meditation · prayer · sanctuary · spirituality · penance · ritual · miraculous
Quantity of matter
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- vespersEvening devotional service
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
bishop · priest · sermon · hymn · gospel · choir · parish · sacrament
Gathering place for discourse
- ColosseumFlavian arena in Rome
- PompeiiVolcano-buried Roman city
- agoraGreek civic square
- amphitheaterOpen-air tiered venue
aqueduct · catacombs · frescoes · mosaic · pantheon · ruins · inscriptions · masonry
Judicial decision-making body
- verdictOfficial court decision
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- judgeOne who decides
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
defendant · prosecution · defense · testimony · witness · magistrate · advocate · proceedings
nave
Church's main interior
dome · vault · altar · chancel · clerestory · crypt · ambulatory · narthex · atrium · portico
shrine
Sacred devotional place
journey · devotion · meditation · prayer · sanctuary · spirituality · penance · ritual · miraculous · intercession
mass
Quantity of matter
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- vespersEvening devotional service
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
clergy · bishop · priest · sermon · hymn · gospel · choir · parish · sacrament · procession
forum
Gathering place for discourse
amphitheater · aqueduct · catacombs · frescoes · mosaic · pantheon · ruins · inscriptions · masonry · tribunal
tribunal
Judicial decision-making body
plaintiff · defendant · prosecution · defense · testimony · witness · magistrate · advocate · proceedings · judgment
- religious organizationsBaptist churches, congregations, Methodist churches, Methodist Church, parishes
- LyonLyon, confluence, Rhone River, Rhone, Festival of Lights
- Ancient RomeRome, Julius Caesar, Caesar, gladiator, gladiators
- architectureEiffel Tower, buildings, architects, design, thatching
- Catholic ChurchVatican, papacy, cardinals, popes, papal
- CatholicismVatican, cardinals, pope, Holy Communion, popes
basilicachapel
Small worship room
oratory · wayside shrine · prayer room · house church · storefront church
basilicamarketplace
Venue for commerce
forum · courthouse · stock exchange · shopping arcade · warehouse
- St. Peter's BasilicaRome's principal Catholic church
- St Peter's BasilicaVatican's principal church
- St Peters BasilicaVatican's principal church
- Saint Peter's BasilicaCatholic headquarters church
- St. Peters BasilicaVatican's principal church
- St. Mark's BasilicaVenice's principal Byzantine church