Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro

There is a similarly named Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu.

Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro Basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro
Basic information
Location	Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire
Geographic coordinates	6°48′40″N 5°17′47″W / 6.81111°N 5.29639°W / 6.81111; -5.29639Coordinates: 6°48′40″N 5°17′47″W / 6.81111°N 5.29639°W / 6.81111; -5.29639
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Year consecrated	1990
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Minor basilica
Website	Official Website
Architectural description
Architect(s)	Pierre Fakhoury
Architectural type	Church
Direction of façade	NE
Completed	1990
Construction cost	US$300m
Specifications
Capacity	18,000
Length	195 metres (640 ft)
Width	150 metres (490 ft)
Width (nave)	55 metres (180 ft)
Height (max)	158 metres (518 ft)
Dome dia. (outer)	90 metres (300 ft)[1]
Materials	marble

The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro (French: Basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix de Yamoussoukro) is a Roman Catholic minor basilica dedicated to Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, the administrative capital of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). The basilica was constructed between 1985 and 1989 at a cost of $300 million. The design of the dome and encircled plaza are clearly inspired by^[2] those of the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican City, although it is not an outright replica.^[3] The cornerstone was laid on August 10, 1985, and it was consecrated on September 10, 1990, by Pope John Paul II.^[4]

The basilica is not a cathedral. The nearby Cathedral of Saint Augustine^[5] is the principal place of worship and seat of the bishop of the Diocese of Yamoussoukro.

Guinness World Records lists it as the largest church in the world, having surpassed the previous record holder, St. Peter's Basilica, upon completion. It has an area of 30,000 sq metres (322,917 sq ft) and is 158 m (518 ft) high.^[6] However, it also includes a rectory and a villa (counted in the overall area), which are not strictly part of the church, and it can accommodate 18,000 worshippers, compared to 60,000 for St. Peter's.^[7]

The Basilica is administered by Polish Pallottines.

Architecture

The structure was criticized due to the comparison between the lavish building and the impoverished surroundings.

While designing it after the Vatican Basilica, Lebanese architect Pierre Fakhoury constructed the dome to be slightly lower than the Basilica of Saint Peter, but ornamented with a larger cross on top. The finished height is 158 metres (518 ft).^{[citation needed]} The basilica is constructed with marble imported from Italy and is furnished with 7,000 square metres (75,000 sq ft) of contemporary stained glass from France. Columns are plentiful throughout the basilica but are not uniform in style; the smaller columns are there for structural reasons, while the bigger ones are decoration and contain elevators, rainwater evacuation from the roof, and other building mechanical devices. There is enough space to seat 7,000 people in the nave, with standing room for an additional 11,000 people.^{[citation needed]} Apart from the basilica are two identical buildings each serving as rectory and private papal villa, respectively. The villa is reserved for papal visits, of which only one has occurred: when the basilica was consecrated.^{[citation needed]}

The basilica was met with some controversy globally when construction began.^{[citation needed]}

Construction

The Basilica was built by Dumez, the French construction company.^[8]

Memorial

Côte d'Ivoire President Félix Houphouët-Boigny chose his birthplace of Yamoussoukro to be the future site of the new capital city of his country in 1983. As part of the plan of the city, the president wanted to memorialize himself with the construction of what he called the greatest church in the world. As construction was nearly completed, the president commissioned a stained glass window of his image to be placed beside a gallery of stained glass of Jesus and the apostles. This image depicts him as one of the three Biblical Magi, kneeling as he offers a gift to Jesus.

See also

• List of largest churches in the world
• List of tallest church towers
• List of churches

Notes

1. ^ List of largest church buildings in the world, fr:Basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix de Yamoussoukro
2. ^ Ostling, Richard N.; James Wilde (1989-07-03). "The Basilica in the Bush". Time. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,958078,00.html. Retrieved 2008-11-17. 
3. ^ Massaquoi, Hans J. (December 1990). "An African's gift to the Vatican: the world's largest church - Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Basilica of Our Lady of Peace". Ebony (Johnson Publishing Co.). http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n2_v46/ai_9177142. Retrieved 2008-07-24. 
4. ^ Pope John Paul II (1990-09-10) (in French). Dédicace de La Basilique de «Notre-Dame de La Paix». Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/homilies/1990/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19900910_yamoussoukro_fr.html. Retrieved 2009-01-02. 
5. ^ "Diocese of Odienné, Cote d’Ivoire". Giga Catholic Information. www.gcatholic.com. http://www.gcatholic.com/dioceses/diocese/odie0.htm. Retrieved 2010-09-10. 
6. ^ "The biggest, longest, tallest...". The Guardian. 2004-07-17. http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,11710,1240318,00.html. Retrieved 2008-07-22. 
7. ^ "Our Lady of Peace Basilica, Yamoussoukro". www.churchesguide.com. http://www.churchesguide.com/basilica-our-lady-of-peace-yamoussoukro.php. Retrieved 2010-09-10. 
8. ^ "Basilique Notre Dame de la Paix à Yamoussoukro". History of the VINCI Group. www.vinci.com. http://www.vinci.com/vinci.nsf/en/history-sites.htm?OpenAgent&our_lady_of_peace_in_yamoussoukro. Retrieved 2010-09-10. 

Further reading

• Pope John Paul II (1990-09-10) (in French). Dédicace de La Basilique de «Notre-Dame de La Paix». Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/homilies/1990/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19900910_yamoussoukro_fr.html. Retrieved 2009-01-02. 
• Elleh, Nnamdi (2002). Architecture and Power in Africa. New York: Praeger. ISBN 0275976793. http://books.google.com/?id=O0hjGbGMOZMC&printsec=frontcover#PPA131,M1. 
• Fakhoury, Pierre; Bertrand, Yann Arthus ; Quino, Fernand (Liège). Yann Arthus. ed (in French). La basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix, Yamoussoukro. Liège. ISBN 2870094396. 
• Fakhoury, Pierre; Bentot; Eric (1990). "Notre-Dame de la paix : l'architecture universelle" (in French). Balafon (Abidjan: Air Afrique) 94: 18–25. ISSN 0378-469X. OCLC 70223073. 

External links

• Basilica of Our Lady of Peace photos 2008 - an album of the Basilique images. Outside and inside views.
• Ellis, David (2007-01-24). "The President and the Basilica". The Epoch Times. http://en.epochtimes.com/news/7-1-24/50862.html. 
• Abdijan.net (2002). "La Basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix de Yamoussoukro" (in French). http://www.abidjan.net/cotedivoire/basilique/basilique1.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-06.