Cathedrals of Australia and Oceania: Cathedrals of the World, #1

By Andrej Margarin

Cathedrals of Australia and Oceania is first book of the book series "Cathedrals of the World".

This unique full-colored book presents all cathedrals, one by one, from different Christian denominations, located on continent of Australia and Oceania-Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Assyrian churches.

Beside more than 200 illustrations and photos of almost all cathedrals on the continent, facts and descriptions about them, readers will find facts about hierarchy and territorial organization of particular churches on the continent, as well as their dioceses. Readers will also find the facts about 111 places in which cathedrals are located, from megacities like Sydney and Melbourne, to some small Oceanian villages.

This book follows the geographical rather than political borders of the Continent, so it covers the territories of the 14 independent states of the continent, the territories of dependent territories, but also parts of the USA (Hawaii) and Indonesia that geographically belong to Oceania.

The book is intended for anyone interested in church architecture, church organization, as well as the area and cities of the continent of Australia and Oceania. It can also be used as a guide for religious tourism.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andrej Margarin
• Release date: Dec 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201232337

Book preview

PREFACE

Cathedrals of Australia and Oceania is first book of the book series Cathedrals of the World.

This unique full-colored book presents all cathedrals, one by one, from different Christian denominations, located on continent of Australia and Oceania-Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Assyrian churches.

Beside more than 200 illustrations and photos of almost all cathedrals on the continent, facts and descriptions about them, readers will find facts about hierarchy and territorial organization of particular churches on the continent, as well as their dioceses. Readers will also find the facts about 111 places in which cathedrals are located, from megacities like Sydney and Melbourne, to some small Oceanian villages.

This book follows the geographical rather than political borders of the Continent, so it covers the territories of the 14 independent states of the continent, the territories of dependent territories, but also parts of the USA (Hawaii) and Indonesia that geographically belong to Oceania.

The book is intended for anyone interested in church architecture, church organization, as well as the area and cities of the continent of Australia and Oceania. It can also be used as a guide for religious tourism.

INTRODUCTION

What is cathedral?

A cathedral is a church that contains the seat (cathedra) of a bishop of the diocese or archdiocese. The phrase cathedral church(ecclesia cathedralis in Latin), or elliptically cathedral, derives fromcathedra(cathedra), because it houses the bishop's chair. Churches with the function of cathedral are usually specific to those Christian denominations with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and some other churches. A cathedral is serving as the central church of a diocese, and because of that, it is usually, by its size and splendor, the most imposing building in town. The building itself, by its physical presence, symbolizes both the glory of God and of the church. Another name for the cathedral in Latin is ecclesia mater, to indicate that it is the mother church of a diocese. Cathedral buildings are frequently the grandest of churches in the diocese (and country), but not always.

Cathedrals are very often oriented east/west, so that the worshipers look towards the rising sun, symbolizing the Risen Christ. The architectural form of the building most frequently has the ground plan of a cross. The main body of the building, making the longer arm of the cross, is called the nave. The arms of the cross are called the transepts and often contain a number of chapels. Farthest from the main entry is the sanctuary where the Blessed Sacrament is laid on the altar or communion table for the consecration. The chancel is the space around the altar, including the choir and the sanctuary, placed in the east end of cathedral. The façade or west front is the most ornate part of the exterior with the processional doors, often three in number. Cathedrals often have towers, spires or domes, with bells, that are usually the major landmarks in cities or in views across the countryside. Cathedrals usually have a pipe organ to accompany the choir.

Among just mentioned symbolic, organization and religious functions of cathedral, it also has civic and social functions. Because of their architecture, cathedrals are usually attractive for visitors and tourists.

A pro-cathedral is a parish or other church used temporarily as a cathedral, usually while the cathedral of a diocese is under construction, renovation, or repair.

A co-cathedral is a second cathedral in a diocese that has two sees. The cathedral therefore remains the main church of a diocese, while the co-cathedral is equalized to it. The right to elevate a church to the dignity of co-cathedral belongs to the Holy See.

A metropolitan cathedral is the cathedral church of a metropolitan bishop.

Australia and Oceania

Australia and Oceania is the continent covering Australasia (Australia with Tasmania and New Zealand), and three island regions: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia (including the US. state of Hawaii). It is the smallest continent in the world with a total land area of 8.56 million square kilometers (3,310,000 sq mi). Also, it is a continent wit smallest population, after Antarctica. There are 14 sovereign states, 9 inhabited dependent or similar territories. Also, there are parts of few transcontinental states, like Hawaii (USA) or Western New Guinea (Indonesia), on the continent. Due to political reasons, these areas are not usually considered as the parts of the Australia&Oceania continent, but geographically, they undoubtedly are part of that, so will therefore be covered in this book.

Map of Australia&Oceania based on the United Nations geoscheme:

Illustration by Cruickshanks.

List of souverign states in Australia&Oceania:

List of dependent territories in Australia&Oceania:

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The presence of Christianity in Australia began in the late 18th century, with the arrival of the First Fleet of British convict ships at Sydney in 1788. Before that there were some missionary activities on teritorry of Oceania. In 19th century, due to the settlement of the population from Europe, and the activities of missionaries among the indigenous population, Christianity began to spread across the continent, followed by the construction of churches and cathedrals. Most of cathedrals were built in Revival Arhitectonal Style, some of them with some local architectonal elements. Nowdays, there are cathedrals of Catholic (Roman and Eastern), Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Assirian Chrystian denominations, placed in more than 100 places on the Continent.

CATHOLIC CATHEDRALS

The Catholic Church is comprised of the Roman Catholic Church and twenty-three Eastern Christian sui iuris (autonomous) particular churches of the Catholic Church, in full communion with the Pope in Rome.

As of October 05, 2021, the Catholic Church in its entirety comprises 3,171 ecclesiastical jurisdictions, including over 652 archdioceses and 2,248 dioceses, as well as apostolic vicariates, apostolic exarchates, apostolic administrations, apostolic prefectures, military ordinariates, personal ordinariates, personal