Changes

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Sagrada-familia-a-moon.jpg|right|frame]]

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Sagrada-familia-a-moon.jpg|right|frame]]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1:  of, relating to, or containing a ''cathedra'' (a bishop's [[throne]])

*1:  of, relating to, or containing a ''cathedra'' (a bishop's [[throne]])

*2:  [[emanating]] from a chair of [[authority]]

*2:  [[emanating]] from a chair of [[authority]]

==Description==

==Description==

A '''cathedral''' (French ''cathédrale'' from [[Latin]]. ''cathedra'', "seat" from the [[Greek]] ''kathedra'' (καθέδρα), seat, bench, from ''kata'' "down" + ''hedra'' seat, base, chair) is a Christian [[church]] which contains the seat of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocese diocese], conference, or episcopate. Although the word "cathedral" is sometimes loosely applied, churches with the [[function]] of "cathedral" occur specifically and only in those denominations with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholic], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism Anglican], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Christian Orthodox], and some Lutheran and Methodist churches. In the Greek Orthodox Church, the terms ''kathedrikos naos'' ([[literally]]: "cathedral [[shrine]]") is sometimes used for the church at which an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbishop archbishop] or "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_bishop metropolitan]" presides. The term "metropolis" (literally "mother city") is used more commonly than "diocese" to signify an area of governance within the church.

A '''cathedral''' (French ''cathédrale'' from [[Latin]]. ''cathedra'', "seat" from the [[Greek]] ''kathedra'' (καθέδρα), seat, bench, from ''kata'' "down" + ''hedra'' seat, base, chair) is a Christian [[church]] which contains the seat of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocese diocese], conference, or episcopate. Although the word "cathedral" is sometimes loosely applied, churches with the [[function]] of "cathedral" occur specifically and only in those denominations with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholic], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism Anglican], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Christian Orthodox], and some Lutheran and Methodist churches. In the Greek Orthodox Church, the terms ''kathedrikos naos'' ([[literally]]: "cathedral [[shrine]]") is sometimes used for the church at which an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbishop archbishop] or "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_bishop metropolitan]" presides. The term "metropolis" (literally "mother city") is used more commonly than "diocese" to signify an area of governance within the church.

There are certain variations on the use of the term "''cathedral''"; for example, some [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformation pre-Reformation] cathedrals in Scotland now within the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Scotland Church of Scotland] still retain the term , despite that church's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterianism Presbyterian] polity that does not have bishops. The same occurs in Germany, where Protestant churches (many with a presbyterian or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational congregational] polity) co-operate under an umbrella organisation, the Evangelical Church in Germany, with some retaining ''cathedrals'' or using the term as a merely honorary title and function, void of any [[hierarchical]] supremacy. As cathedrals are often particularly impressive edifices, the term "cathedral" is often applied colloquially to any large and impressive [[church]], regardless of whether it functions as a ''cathedral'', such as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Cathedral Crystal Cathedral] in California or figuratively to imply that a church is of outstanding [[beauty]] such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_John_the_Baptist,_Tideswell St John the Baptist, Tideswell], known as the "Cathedral of the Peak".

There are certain variations on the use of the term "''cathedral''"; for example, some [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformation pre-Reformation] cathedrals in Scotland now within the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Scotland Church of Scotland] still retain the term , despite that church's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterianism Presbyterian] polity that does not have bishops. The same occurs in Germany, where Protestant churches (many with a presbyterian or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational congregational] polity) co-operate under an umbrella organisation, the Evangelical Church in Germany, with some retaining ''cathedrals'' or using the term as a merely honorary title and function, void of any [[hierarchical]] supremacy. As cathedrals are often particularly impressive edifices, the term "cathedral" is often applied colloquially to any large and impressive [[church]], regardless of whether it functions as a ''cathedral'', such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Cathedral Crystal Cathedral] in California or figuratively to imply that a church is of outstanding [[beauty]] such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_John_the_Baptist,_Tideswell St John the Baptist, Tideswell], known as the "Cathedral of the Peak".

Several cathedrals in Europe, such as that of Strasbourg, Essen, Freiburg i.B., and in England at York, Lincoln and Southwell, are referred to as "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minster_(cathedral) Minster]" (German: ''Münster'') churches, from Latin ''monasterium'', because the establishments were served by canons living in community or may have been an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey abbey], prior to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformation Reformation]. The other kind of great church in Western Europe is the abbey.

Several cathedrals in Europe, such as that of Strasbourg, Essen, Freiburg i.B., and in England at York, Lincoln and Southwell, are referred to as "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minster_(cathedral) Minster]" (German: ''Münster'') churches, from Latin ''monasterium'', because the establishments were served by canons living in community or may have been an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey abbey], prior to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformation Reformation]. The other kind of great church in Western Europe is the abbey.

[[Category: Architecture]]

[[Category: Architecture]]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Religion]]