The Trinity Church in Fatima near Lisbon, designed by the Greek architect Alexandros Tombazis and consecrated this month, is one of the largest in the world. With an internal area of 12,000 sq. m, however, it could not accommodate about a million pilgrims who arrived for the first service in the new church.
The oval structure was deliberately made quite low so that it did not obstruct the view of the old Baroque basilica of Fatima. Thirteen bronze doors lead inside - according to the number of those present at the Last Supper. There are no free-standing supports in the interior so that they do not obstruct the view of the altar from anywhere in the temple. The new church has 5 chapels, almost 50 confessionals, there is even a cafe where believers can relax. The interior space is decorated with a mosaic of 500 sq. m of hand-made tiles, which depicts Heavenly Jerusalem. Also on the walls are quotes from the Bible in 23 languages.
The completion of the construction of the gigantic building is timed to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the appearance of Our Lady of Fatima to three young shepherds. She spoke to the children several times during 1917, predicting for them the coming World War II, the return of Soviet Russia to Christianity and the attempt on the life of the Pope in 1981.
Fatima is visited by 5 million pilgrims annually, and their number, according to experts, should increase even more.
