Basilicas in Germany—Greater Cologne

Basilica of St. Gereon, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XV in 1920.

The Romanesque church was completed in 1227 and incorporates a Roman wall.  There is evidence that a church was on this site as early as the 7th Century honoring Gereon, a Roman soldier who was martyred for the Faith.

The first two pictures are from local sources, the third is from Pinterest, and the last from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Ursula, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XV in 1920.

St. Ursula was a 4th Century virgin who had traveled to Cologne with 11 (or possibly 11,000) other virgins for her wedding to a local prince.  The Huns attacked their party and all were martyred for the Faith.  The basilica was built on the site of a Roman cemetery—construction began in the early 12th Century and was completed in the 13th Century.  The building is primarily Romanesque with a Gothic choir.  Baroque elements were added in 17th Century.  Ursula’s remains and those or her companions are kept in The Golden Chamber within the church.  The Church was heavily damaged in the Second World War but has been restored.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Severin, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1953.

The Basilica is dedicated to St. Severin who served as the third Bishop of Cologne in the 4th Century.  A church has been on this site since the 4th Century.  Parts of the church date to the 9th Century and it was renovated and enlarged until the 16th Century.  The Romanesque church was badly damaged during the Second World War but has been restored. 

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Minster Basilica of St. Martin, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1956.

An abbey was established at this site in the 7th Century and this church was built as an abbey church in the 11th Century.  It became the parish of St. Martin in the 19th Century.  It was primarily built in a Romanesque style, but there are also Gothic and Baroque elements.  The church has been badly damaged on more than one occasion but has been restored including as recently as 2021.

The top picture is from Alamy and the last two are from Wikipedia.

Pictures with sources

Basilica of St. Mary in the Capitol, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1965.

The Basilica is the largest Romanesque Catholic church in Cologne and is considered the most important after the Cathedral.  It was built in the 11th Century on the site of a Roman temple (hence the name Capitol).  One of the Basilica’s features is an 11th Century wooden door which has 26 relief depictions from the life of Jesus.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Holy Apostles, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1965.

The Romanesque church dates to the 11th Century but was mostly reconstructed in the 13th Century.  It was damaged during the Second World War but has been restored.  There are statues of all of the Fourteen Holy Helpers most dating to the 16th Century.  The Basilica also has a 13th Century chalice.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Andrew and St. Mary Magdalene, Dormagen-Knechtsteden, North Rhine-Westphalia

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1974.

A Romanesque church was built on this site in the 12th Century as part of a Premonstratensian abbey.  It was destroyed by war in the 15th Century and rebuilt in a Baroque style in the 18th Century.  Napoleon closed the abbey in the 19th Century and much of it burned down in 1869.  The abbey and the church were rebuilt in 1908 for the Spiritan Order—about 20 Spiritans currently live there.  The current church is more Gothic and Romanesque and features 12th Century frescoes that somehow survived wars and fires.   

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Kunibert, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1998.

Kunibert was a 7th Century Bishop of Cologne who built a church on this site and was buried there.  The current Romanesque church was built in the 13th Century.  The building was badly damaged during the Second World War, but has been restored.  The original windows were stored and thus survived the War.  One unique feature is a well near where legend has it, the Virgin Mary would feed porridge to children.  In Cologne, tradition said that children were not brought by a stork, but rather sprang from this well.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilicas in Central America

I blogged about the following basilicas on March 8, 2021.

• Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Our Savior, San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador.
• Basilica of the Black Christ, Esquipulas, Chiquimula, Guatemala.
• Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary, Panama, Panama, Panama.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, Cartago, Cartago, Costa Rica

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1935.

The church was originally built in 1639 but dates mostly to the early 20th Century.  It employs a mixture of colonial and Byzantine architectural styles.  Pilgrims come to view the statue of Our Lady and the Infant Jesus made of volcanic rock and found by a young girl.

Pictures are from Flickr, Pinterest, and Wikipedia (last two).

Basilica of St. Anthony, Managua, Managua, Nicaragua

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1957.

The Basilica was destroyed by an earthquake around 1972 and has not been rebuilt.

Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John XXIII in 1960.

The Basilica was built between 1913 and 1953.

The first pictures is from the basilica website, the second from a local source, and the last two from Pinterest.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, San Vincente, San Vincente, El Salvador

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John XXIII in 1962.

After Our Lady of the Pillar was credited with the prevention of a murder, a church was built in honor of Our Lady.  The original small chapel was replaced by the current Baroque church in 1769.  The church was damaged by earthquakes in 1936 and 2001 but has been restored.  Jose Simeon Canas, who abolished slavery in Central America, is buried in the Basilica. 

From Flickr and Pinterest

Basilica of Jesus of Nazareth, Atalaya, Veraguas, Panama

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1964.

The church contains an image of Jesus dating at least to the early 1700s that has attracted pilgrims.  Many miracles have been attributed to prayers to Jesus after visiting the icon.  The current brick church dates mainly to the late 18th Century although the tower was not completed until 1925.

The first two pictures are from local sources and the third is from Pinterest.

Basilica of St. Sebastian, Diriamba, Carazo, Nicaragua

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1964.

The colonial church was constructed between 1891 and 1939.  The stone church was built by an Italian architect and contains paintings by an Austrian artist.

From Flickr and Pinterest.

Cathedral Basilica Sanctuary of Our Lady of Peace, San Miguel, San Miguel, El Salvador

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1966.

The Basilica is the Cathedral for the Diocese of San Miguel.  It was built between 1862 and 1962 using volcanic stone and an eclectic style.  It was built as an oratory for Our Lady and did not become a cathedral until 1913. 

Pictures are from Flickr, a local source, Pinterest, and Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Guatemala City, Guatemala, Guatemala

Declared a minor basilica by Paul VI in 1969.

The Neoclassical church was built by the Dominicans in the late 18th Century, but has been rebuilt twice after earthquakes. 

The first picture is from Flickr, the second from a local source, and the last two are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Tejar, Cartago, Costa Rica

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1985.

I think this picture is correct.  I have no other information.

From a local source.

Basilica of St. John Bosco, Panama, Panama, Panama

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1988.

No information on this Italianate church.

 

Pictures are from Dreamstime and a local source.

Basilica and Sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception, El Viejo, Chinandega, Nicaragua

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1995.

The church contains an image of the Virgin Mary dating at least to the 17th Century that is possibly associated with St. Teresa of Avila (16th Century).

All pictures are from local sources.

Basilica of Our Lady of Suyapa, Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazan, Honduras

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2015.

An image of the Virgin of Suyapa was discovered in the 18th Century and a small chapel was built in 1780.  Pope Pius XI declared the Virgin of Suyapa to be the patron saint of Honduras in 1925.  The modern Basilica was constructed between 1954 and 2005.

The first picture is from Pinterest, the second from TripAdvisor, and the last two are from Wikipedia.