These Best Cathedrals And Churches To Visit In Africa
Vast grasslands, majestic mountains and sandy deserts interspersed with modern cities and towns is what comes to mind when one thinks of Africa. Add to that safaris, camping, and exploring local African cuisine and you’d be in outdoor heaven. But even from the small towns of Lalibella and Windhoek to the busy cities like Nairobi and Cape Town.
You’ll find something more that Africa has a lot to offer, her beautiful churches. The African continent is home to some of the most beautiful churches and cathedrals known to man. Here, gathered from different African countries are our favorites. Let find out These Best Cathedrals And Churches To Visit In Africa below.
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These Best Cathedrals And Churches To Visit In Africa
Moedergemeente In Stellenbosch, South Africa
Moedergemeente or NG Kerk is second oldest church in South Africa built back in 1686. It is located at the end of the church street lined with art galleries and tall trees. The surroundings are really peaceful and when you enter the church you get a glimpse of its simple, yet beautiful artwork. What surprised us was that the Church does not have an altar like most other churches. It has beautiful wooden pulpit where the altar would normally.
Saint Catherine’s Monastery In South Sinai, Egypt
Saint Catherine’s Monastery is located in South Sinai in Egypt. It was built by The Roman Emperor Justinian at the site of the burning bush where God talked to Moses. The Monastery lies at the bottom of Mount Sinai where it is believed to be the mountain where God talked to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments.
Although the monastery was built between 548 and 565 AD, there was a monastic settlement at the beginning of the fourth century. The monastic life was recorded in a manuscript written between 381 and 384 AD. The Manuscript was written in old Latin by a woman named Etheria in her book: The Pilgrimage of Etheria. And through the ages, the monastery was neither destroyed nor abandoned.
Sainte Anne Of The Congo, Brazzaville
While the Basilique Sainte Anne du Congo is a Catholic church, it was actually built by a Protestant architect from France in 1943. It’s easily the most beautiful building in Brazzaville, now the laidback capital of the Republic of the Congo. At the time when it was built, though, in the early 1940s, Brazzaville was the capital of France Libre, or Free France. Even though it was still a French colony, it was not controlled by the Vichy regime, which was collaborating with Nazi Germany. Instead, this was the headquarters of Charles de Gaulle’s government in exile, which continued to resist the Nazis. That is once of These Best Cathedrals And Churches To Visit In Africa.
Church Of St. Sergius And Bacchus In Cairo, Egypt
Finding the Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus is no easy feat. Located in the older portion of Coptic Cairo, you’ll need to descend the stairs to the Coptic Cairo Bazaar and then wind your way through the small subterranean alleyways. This church doesn’t look like much from the outside, but it holds a significant place in history. Not only is the Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus one of the oldest Coptic churches in Cairo, but it’s also believed to be built over the place that Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus took shelter after they arrived in Egypt.
So if you’re interested in religious history then you’ll definitely want to add this stop to your Cairo itinerary. The interior of the church is impressive with ancient brick walls and huge wooden roof trusses holding the cambered ceiling aloft. This church was originally constructed in the 4th century but has undergone multiple reconstructions and renovations throughout the years.
Christuskirche In Windhoek, Namibia
Christ Church or Christuskirche is perhaps the most well known attraction in Windhoek, Namibia. Built during the early 1900s, the church’s interesting architecture stands out in the city center. It was designed by Gottlieb Redecker with unique Neo Romanesque, Art Nouveau, and Gothic style architecture. It was built with many imported materials like stained glass donated by the German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm and marble imported from Italy. However, a mine was open nearby to obtain for the sandstone which clads the exterior.