Like other religions, Christianity has many import sacred sites where religious rituals are performed. Any church can be holy and sacred for Christians, but certain churches are older, have more history, and are thus sometimes regarded as especially sacred to believers. These Christian churches, cathedrals, abbeys, and other holy sites can play important roles in the development of Christian history.
The Baptistery of Constantine is located adjacent to the Basilica of St. John Lateran. This church is second only in importance to St. Peter's in Rome. The pope is also the bishop of Rome and his 'home church' is here, not St. Peter's. Until the papal court was moved to Avignon in France, this was the main cathedral of Rome and the official residence of the popes was the adjoining Lateran Palace.
Also referred to as the Church of the Resurrection by Greek Orthodox Christians, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is treated by many as the holiest site in all of Christendom. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is built over a spot where many believe Jesus was crucified. Although this site is now within the city walls, archaeological excavations of the ancient fortifications indicate that it might have been outside the walls at one point.
One of the most famous places mentioned in the gospels may be the Garden of Gethsemane -- according to Mark and Matthew, this was the place where Jesus prayed alone and asked that he not have to endure the suffering and crucifixion that was to come. It was also here that his betrayal by Judas and arrest occurred. A couple of sites today claim to be the location of the Garden of Gethsemane, but none can be traced back earlier than the 4th century so the veracity of their claims is dubious.
Some believe that Glastonbury Abbey is the site of the oldest above-ground Christian church in the world, dating back as far as 63 or even 37 CE. The first recorded church to be built here was in 712 on the orders of King Ine of Wessex, but a community of monks had already been living here for some time — at least since 658, when the Saxons arrived.
The region around Glastonbury has long been associated with King Arthur and his Round Table. In 1191 monks at the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey claimed to have found the tombs of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere in the cemetery. The remains were reburied at the foot of the altar, but they were then lost again during the Reformation.
The synoptic gospels record the site of Jesus' crucifixion either by the Aramaic name 'Golgotha' (place of the skull: Mark 15:22; Matthew 27:33; Luke 19:17) or just as 'Skull' (Luke 23:33). The origin of the name Golgotha is uncertain, but some believe that a cemetery was located here. It is thought that this was a standard site for small executions that would have been common under Roman rule.
Today a Christian church, the Pantheon is the best preserved of all ancient Roman buildings and has been in near-continuous use since Hadrian's reconstruction. From a distance the Pantheon is not as awe-inspiring as other ancient monuments - the dome appears low, not much higher than surrounding buildings. Inside, the Pantheon is among the most impressive in existence. Its inscription, M.AGRIPPA.L.F.COS.TERTIUM.FECIT, means: Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time, built this.
The original Pantheon of Rome was built between 27 & 25 BCE, under Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. It was dedicated to 12 gods of heaven and focused on Augustus' cult. Romans believed that Romulus ascended to heaven from this spot. Agrippa's structure was destroyed in 80 and what we see is a reconstruction from 118 under emperor Hadrian. Today a Christian church, the Pantheon is the best preserved of all ancient Roman buildings. The focus of the Pantheon in Rome is above: the great eye, or oculus.
The Sistine Chapel, with the famous frescos painted by Michelangelo, has important functions in the Vatican. When a pope dies, his body is placed at the altar beneath the fresco of The Last Judgment in the belief that his soul is being judged. When voting for a new pope, the College of Cardinals meets in the Sistine Chapel. After each vote the papers are burned. If there is no decision, the papers are mixed with something to produce black smoke. If a pope is elected, white smoke is produced.
Via Dolorosa is Latin for the 'way of sorrows' or 'way of pain.' It is an important pilgrimage route for Christians in Jerusalem to commemorate the path taken by Jesus when carrying the cross to the site of his crucifixion. There are 14 devotional sites along the way where people stop to pray, none of which existed in the earliest centuries - they are products of medieval Christian practices.
