The great churches represent some of the world's most stunning masterpieces of architecture, art, and faith. In The World's Greatest Churches, go on a guided tour of the most outstanding, memorable, and meaningful churches in the world. Lavishly illustrated with breathtaking photos, detailed floor plans, and 3-D models, these lectures take you deeply into Christianity through its most important buildings.
The World's Greatest Churches
Discover sublime masterpieces of architecture, art, and faith in this enthralling journey to the greatest Christian churches, basilicas, and cathedrals around the world.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Bonnie O from
Moving and Inspiring
Great course! Professor Cook is passionate about his subject and shares great insights about the beauty and diversity of churches throughout the world.
Date published: 2024-06-14
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Mishima from
Another favorite
Loved this waaay more than I thought I would. There’s quite a few hit or misses when it comes to the great courses so I keep my expectations low but this one was great. Professor Cooks deep appreciation shows in his extensive travels. He completed quite the journey in preparation for the course. It’s like he takes you along for the ride. Interesting and inspiring to seek out churches which some times can be under appreciated since there are so many.
Date published: 2023-12-08
Rated 5 out of
5
by
bob in Oregon from
Dr Cook is absolutely the best of them all!
I have now completed 20 of the Great Courses, and without a doubt he is the very best of all the lecturers. His passion for the subject is just overwhelming. You can tell that he deeply loves what he does. He reminds me of my favorite college professor. He is the consummate teacher.
As an example, for this class he visited every one of the churches and the photographs, are for the most part, his own. And because the churches which he chose to highlight are located all over the world, that means he did an awful lot of traveling. He brings a knowledge of history, religion, culture, art and architecture all together in the discussion of each of the churches. You just can't help but learn so much.
I have also completed "The Cathedrals" course by Dr. Cook and that is highly recommended as well. I would hate to have to choose which one is the better. He approaches both with an enthusiasm that is without equal.
Can you tell that I am very impressed? Don't hesitate to order either or both of these courses.
Date published: 2022-10-31
Rated 5 out of
5
by
tlbiss from
Wonderful!
I thoroughly enjoyed this lecture series. Professor Cook took such care in presenting it and his enthusiasm and knowledge were inspirational. I appreciated "traveling the world" with him. I subscribe to The Great Courses through Amazon Prime ... money well spent.
Date published: 2022-10-16
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Learner75 from
One of My Most Favorites!
I will never in my lifetime be able to visit all of the beautiful churches featured in this video series. The lectures and the pictures were outstanding! I've loaned the video set to two of my friends and they are raving about this series, too.
Date published: 2022-09-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Phil L from
The World's Greatest Churches
Excellent lectures - easy to follow and wonderful photgraphs.
Date published: 2022-09-13
Rated 5 out of
5
by
cjflyer from
Excellent background for these great churches
I purchased this course as a gift for my husband, and we've been captivated by Dr. Cook's well-presented guided tours through the history, architecture and religion of these churches. We've visited several in the course of our travels, and wish we'd had this background beforehand. We'll be better prepared next time our destination puts us within reach of one of these churches!
Date published: 2022-08-30
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Hoatzin from
I will be using this course when planning trips.
This is a good, but not great, course that covers Christian architecture through the ages and across the European continent and beyond. Professor Cook more or less takes a chronological approach, and many of the earliest Christian churches that still exist may surprise and delight you. He is still enamored with pillars, arches, and vaults; but in this course, there is so much history and variety that it usually does not become tiresome.
Again, I have quibbles about the title and Professor Cook’s rankings. From my perspective, his lecture on the four American churches is a misnomer. While the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. is very interesting to Americans, I would never classify the Old North Church in Boston, the First Church of Guildford, CT, and the Quaker meetinghouse in NY as being among the “World’s Greatest Churches.”
I have no idea why Professor Cook didn’t discuss the fascinating history of Christianity in Iceland when he was tediously focusing on Hallgrimskirkja in Reykjavik.
And he continues to ignore the churches of Ireland. Some are from the 12th century, and some of the “modern” ones, like the Honan Chapel in Cork, have exquisite mosaic floors and stunning stained-glass windows.
The guidebook is rather disappointing. Each chapter has an introduction that broadly outlines the history of the church(es) but does not go into the specific details that make each church so impressive. There are generally six to eight black-and-white photos following the text and Professor Cook does reference a book and a website for further information.
In spite of the flaws, including some factual slips, (St. Elizabeth of Hungary was never a queen, and Joseph had a younger brother, Benjamin), I found the course quite interesting. I certainly will review a lecture if I plan on visiting one of the churches in my future travels.
Date published: 2022-06-10
Overview
About
Dr. William R. Cook is the Distinguished Teaching Professor of History at the State University of New York at Geneseo, where he has taught since 1970. He earned his bachelor's degree cum laude from Wabash College and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa there. He was then awarded Woodrow Wilson and Herbert Lehman fellowships to study medieval history at Cornell University, where he earned his Ph.D. Professor Cook teaches courses in ancient and medieval history, the Renaissance and Reformation periods, and the Bible and Christian thought. Since 1983 Professor Cook has directed 11 Seminars for School Teachers for the National Endowment for the Humanities. His books include Images of St. Francis of Assisi and Francis of Assisi: The Way of Poverty and Humility. Dr. Cook contributed to the Cambridge Companion to Giotto and edits and contributes to The Art of the Franciscan Order in Italy. Among his many awards, Professor Cook has received the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 1992 the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education named him New York State's Professor of the Year. In 2003 he received the first-ever CARA Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Medieval Studies from the Medieval Academy of America.
Trailer
01: The Earliest Churches
In visiting this iconic church of the Holy Land, trace the history of the building and of the medieval reconstruction we see today. Study the church's unusual structure, incorporating the "aedicule" believed to be the site of Jesus's burial and resurrection, as well as individual chapels reflecting events of the passion of Christ....
35 min
02: The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Begin by considering what defines a church, encompassing both its religious uses and its functions as a place of assembly. Learn how the first churches came into being, based architecturally on the secular pagan "basilica." Study some of the best surviving basilica-type churches in Italy, noting their structural features and their remarkable mosaic decoration.
31 min
03: Hagia Sophia
Learn about the dramatic past of this jewel of Constantinople, which served as a church for 1,000 years before becoming a mosque. Discover one of the world's most extraordinary architectural spaces, highlighting its awe-inspiring dome and grand interiors. Also linger over its superlative mosaics, carved columns, and decoration in colored marbles....
31 min
04: The Cave Churches of Cappadocia
Here, ponder the highly unusual churches of Turkish Cappadocia, elaborately carved into the sides of mountains within a mysterious and otherworldly landscape. Glimpse the lives of the monks and hermits who lived here, and study the churches' astonishing frescoes that richly illustrate biblical scenes and the life of Jesus....
30 min
05: Great Churches of Russia
Discover the extraordinary beauties of the churches of the Russian Orthodox tradition. Learn about the religious culture that inspired these structures, with their characteristic gilded domes and striking decoration of sculpture, frescoes, and tile work. Visit outstanding cathedrals in Vladimir, Suzdal, and Yaroslavl, as well as the Kremlin churches of Moscow....
31 min
06: The Painted Churches of Romania
The churches of Romanian Moldavia, unique in the world, are richly adorned with frescoes both inside and outside. Explore examples of the extraordinary exterior paintings, noting how narrative themes are consistent on north, west, east, and south-facing walls. Study the three-room church interiors, and the frescoes' remarkable range of religious themes....
32 min
07: The Churches of Armenia
This lecture takes you deeply into the Armenian artistic heritage of Christianity. In visits to a spectrum of beautiful churches and monasteries, encounter the rich detail and ornate elaboration of stone carving depicting religious iconography, as well as architectural traditions such as unusual vaulted domes and "khachkars" (free-standing stone monuments)....
31 min
08: The Churches of Georgia
Continue with the superlative decoration of the historic churches of Georgia. In Mtskheta, Santavro, and Ruisi, study exterior stone carvings evoking striking Christian imagery. Delve into the extraordinary theological vision and stunning frescoes of the Ateni Sioni church, the cathedral of Nikortsminda, and the World Heritage site of Gelati....
30 min
09: The Rock-Hewn Churches of Ethiopia
Visit the monolithic churches of Lalibela, each completely carved from a single piece of rock, creating the illusion of columns and vaulted ceilings. Study their mysterious architectural details and their interior artworks, rich with religious symbolism, and learn about Ethiopia's links to the Old and New Testaments....
32 min
10: The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba
Contemplate the remarkable history of this hybrid religious structure, a medieval cathedral built entirely within a majestic former mosque. Explore the striking Islamic archways and scalloped dome, leading to the Renaissance/Gothic cathedral with its imposing vaulting, sumptuous decoration, and monumental wood-carved choir-a compelling and unforgettable juxtaposition of cultures....
30 min
11: The Stave Churches of Norway
Journey to the picturesque landscapes of rural Norway, which are home to a unique tradition of wooden churches dating from the 12th century. Study the complex, multi-tiered construction of the churches, featuring intricate carving, painted sculpture, and a strikingly beautiful blending of indigenous Norwegian decoration and medieval Christian art...
32 min
12: The Pilgrimage Church of Sainte-Foy
Walk in the shoes of pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela in this visit to the magnificent church at Conques. View the bejeweled reliquary of the martyred Sainte Foy, pause to appreciate soaring Romanesque vaulting and extraordinary carved capitals, and decipher the imagery of the superlative tympanum that vividly dramatizes the Last Judgment....
33 min
13: The Cathedral of Monreale
Uncover the cosmopolitan character of this beloved Sicilian cathedral that encompasses Muslim, Byzantine, French, Italian, and Jewish influences. Delve into the remarkable decoration of the great cloisters, 12th-century doors, and above all the cathedral's ceiling and sublime narrative mosaics, comprising one of the world's most beautiful church interiors....
32 min
14: Chartres Cathedral
This grand edifice is widely considered the most outstanding cathedral of the Gothic style. Look deeply into its huge and complex decorative scheme, highlighting the explosion of biblical sculpture on the façade and side porches, and the masterful stained-glass rose and lancet windows, a richly detailed view into medieval life and theology....
32 min
15: Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral stands as a virtual handbook of later medieval architecture, blending decorative elements of extraordinary beauty and rarity. In particular, study the breathtakingly ornate "fan" vaulting, uniquely important tombs, rare medieval frescoes and woodcarving, and the spectacular illuminated pages of the Winchester Bible....
32 min
16: The Cathedral of Siena
Discover how Siena's wondrous cathedral, in its construction and decoration, reflects the civic pride and history of the Sienese. Explore masterpieces of Renaissance and Baroque art, from the elaborate, inscribed marble floor and Duccio altarpiece to sculpture by Michelangelo and Bernini, and the phenomenal carved pulpit by Nicola Pisano....
32 min
17: St. Peter's Basilica
Experience the splendor of the world's largest church and the seat of the papacy, among the most iconic creations of the Christian world. Trace the history of the complex as you take in the resplendent dome by Michelangelo and the Renaissance grandeur of statuary, monuments, papal tombs, and the grand baldacchino by Bernini....
32 min
18: The Wieskirche in Bavaria
This dazzling church in southern Germany embodies the joyful exuberance of the Rococo style. In studying its almost overwhelming decoration of florid ornamentation, lyrical paintings, and animated statuary, observe how the detailed symbolism of the artworks ingeniously expresses the church's themes of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation....
32 min
19: La Compania and Las Lajas Sanctuary
In this first look at New World churches, visit the Spanish Baroque "La Compañía" in Quito, Ecuador. Study the elaborately sculpted façade, the stunning golden interior, and the profusion of sumptuous artworks. Also encounter the remarkable Las Lajas, a neo-Gothic pilgrimage church built to enclose a cave painting of the Virgin Mary....
31 min
20: Guadalupe and the Cathedral of Mexico City
Journey to one of the most important pilgrimage centers in the world, the Mexican shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, followed by Mexico City's great metropolitan Cathedral. At both sites, observe how the buildings' construction, art, and iconography vividly convey the mixture of Christian, indigenous, and Spanish cultures in the New World....
32 min
21: Four Great American Churches
On our own soil, explore two classic churches of the New England tradition, whose characteristic features form part of the American landscape. Then observe how the elegant simplicity of a Quaker meeting house embodies Quaker values, and how the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. expresses both its Anglican roots and a distinctly American character....
31 min
22: La Sagrada Familia
This spellbinding creation by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí interprets the Gothic cathedral through Gaudí's visionary, modernist style. Study the striking sculpted decoration of the exterior portals, the dreamlike interior with its columns fashioned as stylized trees, and the powerful Christian iconography of this unique melding of the traditional and the radically new....
31 min
23: Iceland's Hallgrimskirkja
Discover how the dramatic exterior of this contemporary basilical church reflects the geological features of the Icelandic landscape. Investigate the themes of the church's decoration, as they express the Passion-centered character of Lutheranism, the stark beauty of Iceland, and a Christian spirituality based in simplicity and humble devotion....
31 min
24: Two Churches in Seoul, Korea
In the final leg of your journey, grasp how Korean architect Kim Swoo Geun blended elements of Buddhist temples, modern Western architecture, universal church practices, and Korean Christian history to create beautiful and meaningful Christian spaces. Conclude with reflections on the diversity, cultural adaptations, and ultimate universality of the great buildings you've studied....
35 min
