Wow, this is a magnificent church. Not only is the main church wonderous, but the lower crypt church is filled with unique chapels reflecting Mary's influence on different groups and nationalities and nations. We were here for the baccalaureate mass for Catholic University's graduation. It was crowded and we sttod through ghe service but that did not diminish the awe at this place and the art and statues in here.
This Catholic Church is spacious and very colorful.. My son graduation was held here..
Great pilgrimage for Catholic and beautiful place for visitors.
Just beautiful. Mass was inspiring. We ate at the cafeteria in the basement. Very basic stuff and good.
Awesome place to talk with god, the cyrpt is amazing.
Just saw CARDINAL GREGORY INSTALLED AT THE BASILICA. SIMPLY. AMAZING IN EVERYWAY POSSIBLE. THANK YOU LORD
Amazing basilica. I'd absolutely recommend anyone in the area stop to visit. They have tour guides scattered around and even if there is a Mass you should be able to visit as long as you're quiet.
Beautiful. Diverse congregation, priests, and staff. Great place to start our day.
Beautiful cathedral, the decorations are very impressive and the great service .
Es una obra de arte, por dentro muy hermosa Basilica
Beautifully great place to go and visit even if you are t Catholic
Ancient cathedral you can enjoy its paintings and history
We felt like we were going into a modern European cathedral.
Always a wonderful experience. Educational tours of the Basilica is a must if you haven't done it yet.
Breathtaking place. Tours are available, our guide was super cool
It is a very large and quiet church. We enjoy it very much
How can you begin to describe this place,? It Is absolutely a magnificent church and shrine to Our Blessed Mother. Wonderful gift/book store. Great for handicapped ad I needed a wheelchair. A must see!!
Beautiful church that is a most see for anyone studying architecture or art, and an amazing pilgrimage spot for any catholic, the tour guide was great
One of the most beautiful churches I've ever been to, it is accessible by public transit and by driving. Definitely a highlight of my trip to DC.
The most beautiful basilica in a America. Amazing creation to honor the God of all creation.
Beautiful, peaceful, quiet and best of all, Holy. If you need to excape the world for a while, this is the place. Commune with your creator or meditate on the beauty that man can create. This is a must place to see when you visit Washington, DC.
I try to go there a few times each year. It is magnificent. Everytime I go, I see or hear something that deeply touches my soul. A beautiful place to pray. The guided tours there are very informative. My Catholic faith is enlivened and renewed by the beauty there.
Even if you are not Catholic, it is a great place of beauty and peace.
Yesterday, I happened upon a beautiful youth choir singing a very moving rendition of "Danny Boy", in the main church.
You can participate in Mass, go to confession, visit the fantastic gift shop and book store there. Also a great place for breakfast or lunch.
Beautiful and awe inspiring Basilica. There are incredible mosaics throughout and a cafe for a quick bite!
Absolutely stunning! Words cannot describe the immense beauty of this basilica. Catholic's and non-Catholic's alike can find peace and be mind blown all at once.
Beautiful & amazing cathedral! I would think it would be in Europe by it's amazing style. Must see if you are in DC, even if you aren't Catholic.
Entering this basilica takes your breath away. Knowing that most of the mosaics were made in Italy in my homeland, Friuli, and exactly in Spilimbergo, makes the visit even more exciting. Not to be missed.
I always make it a point to stop in to large houses of worship when I travel, and I have to say that I am happy to live just 5 blocks from this beauty. I still drop by a couple times a month to walk around.
I am not very religious person at all, but I really enjoy the architectural detail and craftsmanship of churches. This is one of the best especially considering how new of the church it is. The attention to detail is flooring. From the mosaic tiled dome, the many spectacular shrines to Mother Mary, to even the doors. They also have some pretty cool religious relics on hand.
The only two faults I have with this church is the gift shop. Feels a bit to commercial for my liking, and I think they could have carried over attention to detail to the cafeteria a bit better. I understand they need to make money to keep the church as stunning as it is, but also think they could have done it a bit more tastefully.
Beautiful inside and out, beautiful stained glass windows and mosaic art.
Give yourself an hour to stroll around and see each of the side altars especially the chapel of Guadalupe. The crypt of the basilica is among the most amazing especially the side altars to early women of the Church: Felicity, Perpetual, Agatha, Lucy, Cecelia, Anastasia. Go to the visitors office and have a Mass offered for your intentions for a donation! It s among the most powerful of prayers this side of heaven.
God bless your visit to this holy place.
Absolutely stunning. Free parking very close by. So much to explore and close proximity to CU and the JPII shrine.
You could spend hours and hours simply absorbing this magnificent building.
A truly holy place. I am so privileged and blessed to be here!
This was my first Christmas and this place happened to be a place to visit. It is really beautiful. The interior was all lit and the ceremony was really ecstatic.
This place has a really scenic view. You could see in the images how the view looks mesmerising in both day light and at night. Plan a visit to this historic monument when you are in DC.
Huge by any standards. Beautiful and worth the trip.
This is the largest Catholic church in North America, with ~70 chapels and was just completed in 2017. Being new, all parts of the church are still pristine and glowing. We went for Sunday Mass at 12pm and then followed by a tour at 1.30pm. The tour is more recommended for Catholics, otherwise I would think it's too much info for non-Catholics, but of course these free tours are open for public! The tour guide brought us to see some of the many chapels and the main church itself, gave some explanations and answered the questions from visitors. After that, we had lunch in the church cafe, nice lunch! Then we strolled in the book store and gift store. There are a lot of good quality books at the book store, but the souvenirs in the gift store are overly overpriced. After that we spent some time outside the church to take some pictures and enjoy the awesome view of the sky and surrounding. Spent a meaningful half a day here :)
Absolutely beautiful! Attending mass at the basilica was so breathtaking!
This is a great place to sit and be still. Mass daily in the crypt church and confessions every day. The web site has more information. The staff is super friendly and helpful and I really like the book store. Lots of titles that are good to see in person and skim (and decide to buy or not buy), rather than get online and then realize you don't like them. Love this place
Beautiful church, a great place to pray and reflect.
Amazing, beautiful shrine to Our Lady. All Catholics in the US should visit!
Such a beautiful and serene environment. Very peaceful and a place that's a must see/visit while in DC.
So very beautiful! A must see for any person who has a soul.
Absolutely STUNNING! Great Mass and just an all around great experience.
We found the roses in the new garden outside...for one thing...Thanks Mary :) <3
A beautiful place to be regardless of your religion. Cafeteria on basement level is very good and reasonably priced. Several masses during the day. Peaceful art inside. Parking is pretty easy in the adjacent lot but keep in mind during high holidays parking is naturally pretty tough so take the metro. The staff working at the Basilica...amazing. There s no such thing as a dumb question.
This place is quite impressive. They boast the largest mosaic of Jesus in the entire world (according to the tour guide) and it was pretty cool! There are guided tours or one can walk around and explore the building themselves. I would highly recommend visiting and soaking in the culture and history associated with this building and it's place in the surrounding community.
More like a venerable Temple of historical significance to our diverse nationalities, with or without a commitment to live by the tenets of Jesus Christ, I as an Orthodox Christian continue to reverently enjoy visiting this Sanctuary with my wife and often with our out-of-town guests.
The two or three hours that I spend here with or without our visiting friends, seem to re-charge my batteries just enough to last barely 2 or 3 months before my soul, mind and body begin to display signs of my need for a re-charging of my batteries again.
So, here I am my Lord, to quench my increasing thirst for Thy eternal blessings of peace for every creature on this planet. 26 June 2018
"Therefore, as we are the generation of GOD, we should not think that the divinity is similar to gold, or silver, or the stone carved by man's art and imagination."
Acts Chap. 17 vers. 29
Beautiful Basilica, with a cafeteria, gift shop, plenty of parking and nice workers.
Now this is a great, big and beautiful church ever if you have time go there you will not regret it.
Largest Catholic Church in the USA. Beautiful building but currently closed for tours due to COVID 19. It has a gift shop and book store. Ample parking with adjacent prayer park honoring Mama Mary. It s a bit away from city center but worth the drive. Walking distance from the Catholic University of the Americas
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a magnificent Roman Catholic Church located in Washington, D.C. It is considered to be the largest church in North America and one of the ten largest churches in the world. The Basilica is dedicated to Mary, who is venerated by Catholics as the Mother of God.
The history of this beautiful church dates back to 1913 when it was first proposed by Bishop Thomas Shahan. The construction began in 1920 and continued for over 60 years until its completion in 1990. The Basilica has been designed with a combination of Byzantine and Romanesque architectural styles, which gives it a unique appearance.
One of the most striking features of this church is its massive dome that rises up to 329 feet above ground level. It is adorned with beautiful mosaics that depict scenes from both Old and New Testaments, as well as images from Catholic tradition.
Inside, visitors can find numerous chapels dedicated to various saints and religious figures such as St. Joseph, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. John Paul II, Our Lady of Guadalupe among others; each chapel has its own unique design and artwork.
The Great Upper Church houses many impressive works including an enormous mosaic depicting Christ Pantocrator (Ruler over All) surrounded by angels; it also contains several side altars dedicated to different saints such as Saint Patrick or Saint Francis Xavier.
In addition to being a place for worship and prayer for Catholics worldwide, The Basilica also serves as an important cultural center hosting concerts featuring renowned musicians from around the world throughout the year; these events are open not only for Catholics but also for people from all walks-of-life who appreciate music or art.
Visitors can take guided tours through this magnificent building where they will learn about its history while admiring its stunning architecture and artwork; there are also audio guides available if you prefer self-guided tours at your own pace.
If you're planning on visiting Washington D.C., make sure you add The Basilica on your list! This awe-inspiring structure will leave you breathless with its beauty while providing an opportunity for spiritual reflection amidst all that hustle-bustle city life offers!
nationalshrine.org
