A cathedral is (usually) a church, but not every church is a cathedral. How does that work? In this article, we’ll give you the answer, plus some more newbie questions about cathedrals. (Thanks Martin Cook for the beautiful photo of Salisbury Cathedral!)
Cathedral: 'Church of the Seat'
All cathedrals are churches, but not all churches are cathedrals. A cathedral is a church where a diocesan bishop has their seat. The word ‘cathedral’ started being used in the Middle Ages to refer to a bishop’s church. It comes from the Latin ‘ecclesia cathedralis,’ which means ‘church of the seat.’ This makes it the most important church in every diocese. You can tell by its grand construction and decorations.
Basilica: Royal Dwelling
In ancient times, a cathedral was was called a basilica because almost every basilica had a ‘cathedra’. Some cathedrals nowadays have the status of a basilica, making it a ‘cathedral basilica.’ Some grand ‘cathedral-like’ churches were initially built as cathedrals (with all their grandeur) but were later transformed into ‘ordinary’ churches when the bishop’s seat relocated. Think of the Utrecht Dom, which became Protestant in 1580.
‘Basilica’ comes from the Latin ‘basilica,’ which initially meant ‘royal dwelling.’ It’s derived from the Greek ‘basilikos,’ meaning ‘royal.’ Later on, the term ‘basilica’ was applied by the ancient Romans to refer to a ‘large, public hall.’ A basilica is, therefore, a building form from classical antiquity, further developed in Romanesque and Gothic church architecture.
The basilica as a church building emerged when the Christian religion was legalized by Roman rulers (in 313). Modeled after both Greek-Roman houses and public market halls, early Christian church architecture, called ‘basilica construction,’ developed. A basilica had the form of an elongated, three- or multi-aisled building with columns. Other characteristics included the visible beam construction or coffered ceiling and the semicircular apse as the rear part. In the apse stood the cathedra (bishop’s seat) with stone benches for the priests (presbytery).
In the Romanesque and Gothic periods, churches were vaulted, supported by pillars and piers. A transept was also added, giving basilical churches a cross-shaped form (cross basilica). Most European churches are basilical buildings. Here, ‘basilical’ means elongated. In the Byzantine world (including Russia), churches are typically centralized (central building).
In the Roman Catholic Church, ‘basilica’ is an honorary title unrelated to architectural form. It’s a title the pope can grant to a church. This might be because of an important relic or because it’s a significant pilgrimage site. There are four major basilicas (basilica maior), each with a papal throne. Additionally, there are papal and pontifical basilicas.
All these churches have a special relationship with the papacy. The largest group (around 1500 worldwide) consists of minor basilicas. To become a basilica, a church must meet specific criteria. The most important ones are age, exceptional beauty, status as a pilgrimage site, and strong devotion to one or more saints.
Cathedral Dom
In some countries, the word ‘dom’ is used for a cathedral (like the Dom Church in Utrecht or the ‘Kölner Dom‘ in Cologne). ‘Dom’ comes from the French ‘Dome,’ which is derived from the Latin ‘Domus,’ meaning ‘house of God.’ The abbreviation of ‘D.O.M. stands for ‘Deo Optimo Maximo’, which translates to “Dedicated to the Best and Greatest God.”
Abbey Church
An abbey church is part of an abbey. An abbey (like Vauclair Abbey) is the collection of buildings belonging to a contemplative Christian monastic order, consisting of monks or nuns. It’s led by an “abbot” (from Latin/Aramaic “father”) or Mother Superior. Non-contemplative orders (like the Jesuits or Franciscans) have monasteries but not abbeys. Abbey buildings often include a monastery and an abbey church.
So what is a monastery? A monastery is a building (often a square inner courtyard surrounded by a cloister) or a complex of buildings that house a group or community of men or women who have withdrawn from the world to lead a religious life. A monastery can also exist independently of an abbey, typically under the leadership of a prior or superior. A monastery under an abbot is called an abbey.
Chapels
A chapel is either a small church of modest size or a self-contained place of worship within a larger church. Especially in the Middle Ages, masses could be held in various chapels and altars within a church (read more about this in this article about the Antwerp Cathedral).
