The Religious Buildings Of Antarctica
You might think an article on religion in Antarctica might be pretty short, and you’d be right. But, there are at least 7 churches on mainland Antarctica and a couple on the surrounding islands. It must have been a right pain in the arse building them in such a bleak, remote place, so we should at least make an effort to look at them.
The chapels and churches all look pretty amazing nestled in the distant frost of Antarctica. Look…
Chapel Of The Snows
The appropriately named Chapel of the Snows is a Christian church located at McMurdo Station on Ross Island, Antarctica. The chapel is also host to services and meetings for other religions including Latter Day Saints, Baha’i, and Buddhism; and non-religious groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous also make use of the building.
The chapel pictured isn’t the original building, the original, if you can believe it, burned down in the 70’s, and later the replacement also burned down. I smell a rat.
Trinity Church
This awesome Russian Orthodox church sprung up in the 1990’s. It’s 15 metres high and fits 30 worshippers under its rickety wooden roof. The church is manned all year round by at least one Orthodox priests.
Chapel of Santisima Virgen de Lujan
This Catholic marvel of the South is situated at the Argentine base — Marambio on Seymour-Marambio Island in Antarctica.
San Francisco de Asis Chapel
This Catholic chapel at Esperanza Base, Antarctic Peninsula boasts a rather chipper colour scheme.
St. Ivan Rilski Chapel
The St. Ivan Rilski chapel has the accolade of being the most southerly place of worship for Eastern Orthodox followers in the world. It’s situated on the Bulgarian base — St. Kliment Ohridski on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands. It took a couple of years to build from 2001-2003.
Santa Maria Reina de la Paz Church
Santa Maria Reina de la Paz Church is another Catholic church at the Villa Las Estrellas, South Shetland Islands.
Ice Chapel at Belgrano II Base, Coats Land
The ice chapel at Belgrado is the most southerly place of worship in the world, and probably one of the nippiest too.
There you go, I hope you saw some pictures you hadn’t seen before. If you want to look at more cold stuff go here:
OMYAKON – COLDEST PLACE ON EARTH
