World's Largest Orthodox Cathedral, world record in Bucharest, Romania

September 25, 2025

Bucharest, Romania--The People's Salvation Cathedral, also known as the National Cathedral, an Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Bucharest, Romania, is 132 meters tall, has a volume of 323,000 m³ and an area of 6,000 m², setting the new world record for being the World's Largest Orthodox Cathedral, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

"The world's largest Orthodox cathedral by area, volume, and height is the People's Salvation Cathedral in Bucharest, Romania. This massive structure is 132 meters tall and has the world's largest by volume and area, largest unpenetrated dome inside, tallest dome outside, largest free-swinging bell, largest iconostasis, and will have the world's largest mosaic collection when completed. (AI Overview)

Key features and records of the People's Salvation Cathedral:

Largest by volume and area: The cathedral has a volume of 323,000 m³ and an area of 6,000 m².
Tallest: It stands at a total height of 132 meters.
World's tallest unpenetrated dome: It features the world's largest unpenetrated dome inside at 106 meters.
World's tallest dome without the lantern and cross: Its outside dome is 121 meters tall.
Largest mosaic collection: When finished, it will feature the world's largest mosaic collection.
Largest iconostasis: The building has the world's largest iconostasis, which is 407 m² in area.
Largest free-swinging church bell: It holds the record for the largest free-swinging church bell at 25.2 tons.

"The People's Salvation Cathedral, also known as the National Cathedral, is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral under construction in Bucharest, Romania, to serve as the patriarchal cathedral of the Romanian Orthodox Church. It is located in central Bucharest on Spirea's Hill (Arsenal Square), facing the Palace of Parliament. At 132 metres (433 ft) tall, the cathedral will hold a dominant position in Bucharest's cityscape, being visible from all approaches to the city.

"It is the tallest and largest Eastern Orthodox church building by volume, and area, in the world. The People's Salvation Cathedral will have the largest collection of church mosaics (interior decoration) in the world when it is completed, having about 17,800 square meters, including the mosaic of the altar is about 3,000 square meters.

"The mosaic of the National Cathedral contains glass tesserae from Venice, and Carrara stone from Pietrasanta, Italy. Also the People's Salvation Cathedral has the world's largest Orthodox iconostasis (23.8 meters length and 17.1 meters height) and the world's largest free-swinging church bell." (Wikipedia)

"The cathedral is dedicated to the Ascension of Christ, which in Romania is celebrated as Heroes' Day, and to Saint Andrew the Apostle, protector of Romania. The cathedral was consecrated on 25 November 2018 by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, Patriarch Daniel of Romania and Metropolitan Chrysostomos (gr) of Patras from the Greek Orthodox Church.

"On the same day as the consecration, the very first church service of the cathedral took place and was led by both Patriarch Bartholomew and Patriarch Daniel. The first patronal feast of the People's Salvation Cathedral was celebrated on 30 November, on the day of Saint Andrew the First Called, and the liturgy was officiated by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and Patriarch Daniel of Romania. The first Te Deum of the cathedral was celebrated on 1 December 2018." (Wikipedia)

People's Salvation Cathedral (PSC):

is the tallest domed cathedral as well as the tallest non-Gothic style cathedral in the world (132 m total height. It is the 6th tallest of all cathedrals in the world. It is the 3rd tallest domed church building in the world after Basilica of Our Lady of Peace (158 m) and St. Peter's Basilica (137 m).
has the world's tallest top dome outside (121 m) (without the lantern and the cross),^[surpassing Basilica of Our Lady of Peace (118 m) and St. Peter's Basilica (110 m). It also has the world's tallest unpenetrated (without oculus) dome inside (106 m).^[16]^[17]^[50]
is the largest by volume (323,000 m³) and area (6,000 m²), the tallest (132 m), longest (126 m) and heaviest (420,000 tons) Eastern Orthodox Church building in the world. It is also one of the largest of all church buildings in the world.
has the world's largest free-swinging church bell (25.2 tons).^[52]
will have the largest mosaic collection (interior decoration) in the world when it is completed (17,800 m²).
has the world's largest iconostasis (407 m²).
has hosted the largest number of religious leaders (the Pope, the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church) among all church buildings in the world.
has the tallest (44 m inside), widest (25.7 m inside) and longest (78.3 m inside) Eastern Orthodox church nave in the world. It is the 2nd widest and 8th tallest among all naves in the world (only 1.3 meters lower than the nave of St. Peter's Basilica, which is the second tallest nave in the world}. (Wikipedia)

"The largest Orthodox church in the world has been built in Bucharest, Romania and will officially open its doors to the public in October," the Greek Reporter says. The People’s Salvation Cathedral, at a height of over 130 meters (426.5 ft), will become the future seat of the Romanian Orthodox Church and the tallest Orthodox structure in the entire world.

"It will be consecrated in a historic ceremony led by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania on October 26.

"The church is some 13 meters (42.5 ft) taller than the second-placed St. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Russia’s St. Petersburg, and the largest Orthodox structure by floor space. Situated behind the Palace of Parliament, this will make it 50 meters (164 ft) taller than the Palace and will help to make the cathedral an iconic landmark in the city."

"The landmark, in the center of the Romanian capital, is due to be completed by 2025 but is already the world's largest and tallest Eastern Orthodox Cathedral. When the final cross is added to the central cupola, the building will stand 127 meters tall,"the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty says.

"Plans for a skyscraping cathedral to celebrate the ascendance of Orthodox Christianity date back to the Russian and Romanian victory over Muslim Ottoman forces in 1878. Romanians refer to that conflict as their War of Independence.

"In the 20th century, world wars, followed by communist dictatorship, along with difficulties choosing a location, led to the cathedral project being repeatedly shelved. Finally, in 2010, ground was broken on an unused patch of land on the territory of communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu's infamous Palace of the Parliament, and construction has continued since then."

"Romanian Cathedral or People’s Salvation Cathedral is the way how Romania surprises, once again, the whole world with another impressive building," the Visit Bucharest says.

"After Palace of Parliament, the largest civilian building in the world, Romanians decided to set the record straight by building the People’s Salvation Cathedral, the tallest and largest Orthodox Cathedral in the whole world.

"People also call it the National Cathedral. This state-of-the-art cathedral in Bucharest will be devoted to the Ascension of Christ and to Saint Andrew, the saviour of the Romanians."

"The People's Salvation Cathedral, also known as the National Cathedral, is a monumental Eastern Orthodox cathedral under construction in Bucharest, Romania. Designed to serve as the patriarchal cathedral of the Romanian Orthodox Church, it is located on Spirea's Hill, near the Palace of Parliament, and stands as a towering addition to Bucharest’s cityscape, with a planned height of 135 meters (443 ft)," the MC General Construct says.

"As the tallest and largest Eastern Orthodox church in the world by volume and area, the cathedral is a symbol of architectural and spiritual significance. It features the largest interior mosaic collection globally, covering 18,000 square meters, and includes Venetian glass tesserae and Carrara stone. Other record-breaking elements include the world's largest Orthodox iconostasis and the heaviest free-swinging church bell, weighing 25.2 tons."