Famous Cathedrals and Shrines Trivia Quiz

Answer: James

Pilgrims came and still come in their thousands to this cathedral. Their long walk is called the Camino. An interesting custom is to bring a stone from your own home area and on the third day of your pilgrimage to add it to the huge pile at Cruz de Hierra.
The cathedral has a huge thurable. When the cathedral was packed with pilgrims this was pushed to and fro to make provide the pilgrims with pleasant smells. :)

Answer: Canterbury

The present cathedral was begun in the 12th century after the original was burned. Pilgrims came to pray to the martyred St. Thomas a Becket. One window is called the 'miracle window' because of alleged cures granted to the pilgrims. Not all pilgrims were wealthy, so a hall was set aside for those who brought their own cooking utensils and bedding.

The Norman Staircase (in the meantime a part of the King's School) is all that's left of this facility at Canterbury. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the ecclesiastical head of the Church of England and of the Anglican Communion.

His tasks include crowning a new sovereign in Westminster Abbey (assisted by other senior bishops of the Church of England).

Answer: Padua

This cathedral was begun in the 13th century and has cloisters adjoining it. It has a curious combination of styles. The dome follows the style of Saint Mark's in Venice, while the body and radial chapels follow French Gothic architecture. In 1749 a fire caused terrible damage, the basilica was restored without modification. Many pilgrims visit the relic of Saint Anthony's tongue.

Answer: Cologne

This huge cathedral has twin towers which reach a height of 157m (515ft). These can be seen from anywhere in the city. It was the tallest tower until the Washington Monument was built. The cathedral is dedicated to Peter and Mary. One of its most famous treasures is the Shrine of the Three Magi.

This is a huge sarcophagus which is supposed to hold the bones of the Magi who visited Christ in Bethlehem. Bloomsby, editor, adds this fascinating snippet: "from 1680-1840 a road passed through the cathedral effectively cutting it in half.

It was completed in 19th century (in so far as a large cathedral is ever complete)".

Answer: Istanbul

This was once the biggest church in all of Christendom. It was built on the orders of the Emperor Justinian. Its mosaics are magnificent especially those showing Mary and John the Baptist imploring Jesus in the name of the people to have mercy. It was used by Muslims as a place of worship for centuries and finally became a museum in 1934 on the orders of Ataturk.

Answer: Lisbon

The See Patriarchal or Cathedral of Santa Maria is the oldest church in Lisbon. It dates back to 306 when Portugal was part of the Roman Empire. When the city was occupied by the Moors 716-1145, the church served as a mosque.

The present building was begun in 1147. It is a curious mixture of Romanesque and Gothic design. My initial impression was that the entrance was more like a castle: the bell towers being sentry towers and the rose window being the room which controlled the portucullis mechanism. It is quite dark inside until the sun hits that rose window and then its splendour emerges. St. Vincent's remains were brought to the Cathedral after the expulsion of the Moors, although other cities claim they have the real relics.

Answer: Notre Dame

Notre Dame Paris is the 'first cathedral built on a truly monumental scale'. Double span flying buttresses support the nave. Notre Dame has one of the most magnificent rose windows ever created in stained glass. Bishop Maurice died before its completion.

Answer: Barcelona

Gaudi wanted to build a 20th century cathedral. The design was based on the plan of a Gothic basilica with five naves, a transept, an apse and an ambulatory. Gaudi died in 1926 before it was completed. In 1936 the crypt was shelled in the Spanish Civil War but the building was resumed in 1952 and was still in progress in the first decade of the 21st century.

Answer: Siena

The Cathedral was originally planned as the largest church in Christendom, but the plans came to nothing because of the Black Death. Pissano is credited with the design we now see. The Cathedral is built on a platform with eleven steps, some suggest there were originally twelve to represent the twelve apostles.
Outside green and pink marble predominate. Inside is a breathtaking, dizzying display of black and white geometric patterns. The mosaics depict 56 allegories from the New Testament.

Answer: Quebec

Notre Dame de Quebec has been on the same site since 1647. It was destroyed by fire twice. The cathedral is very richly decorated including a gift of a chancel lamp from Louis XIV (the 'Sun King'). It was the first church to be raised to the rank of a basilica by Pope Pius IX in 1874.

A basilica is granted special privileges by the Pope, its own insignia and its clergy have the right to wear a cappa on ceremonial occasions.