Saint Mary's Basilica

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Saint Mary's Basilica was founded in 1881 and staffed by the Franciscan Friars since 1895. The church was completed in 1914, dedicated in 1915, and declared a National Historic Site in 1978. The oldest catholic parish in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area, Saint Mary's Basilica is home to Arizona's largest stained glass windows collection. The church's Spanish Mission structure supports four domes spanning the length of the Basilica. All the domes are compound design with the pendentives, following Roman architecture, transferring the weight of the roof to the pillars. The dome over the intercept point of the crossover, the nave center aisle and the apse, is topped with stained glass and features a lantern above the dome to emit light into the nave and sanctuary. The dome located over the altar is topped with a cupola designed to provide light to the altar. Prior to Pope John Paul II's visit to Phoenix in 1987, the Holy Father elevated St. Mary's to a minor basilica. St. Mary's became the 32nd basilica in the United States and remains the only basilica in Arizona. It is located at the corner of North 3rd Street and Monroe in downtown Phoenix, bordering the new convention center on the north. Mass is celebrated daily and tours of the Basilica are conducted each Wednesday following the noon Mass. Private tours are available by appointment.

Saint Mary's Basilica in Phoenix, Arizona

[edit] Other photos of St. Mary's Basilica

St. Mary's Basilica facing west	St. Mary's Basilica at twilight	St. Mary's Basilica Altar	St. Mary's Basilica Stained Glass Windows and Stations of the Cross left side
St. Mary's Basilica Stained Glass Windows and Stations of the Cross right side	St. Mary's Basilica Organ