There’s something eerily beautiful about the ruins of these old churches which were all abandoned and forgotten for various reasons. Some played
important historical roles during times of war and civil unrest, while others depict the challenges and
hardships faced by our modern world. Now, all that remains of these architectural wonders are
parts of the physical structures which provide a strange and fascinating look into what once
existed.

1. Geamăna, Romania The village of Geamăna Romania was destroyed
when the valley was flooded by polluted water from a nearby open copper mine. Today the ruins
of the village church stand straight out of the toxic red colored waters.


2. Yaropolets, Russia The Kazan Theotokos Church, though now a
guarded abandoned site is still the only Russian double-domed church which was built by the Russian Count and military General Zakhar
Chernyshev


3. Caen, France The beautiful ruins of the St-Etienne-le-Vieux
Church still stand in Caen France Today. The church and much of the city were destroyed during The
Battle of Normandy in World War II.


4. Rome, Italy The ruins of the Church of San Bonaventura stand
on what was once the village of Monterano in Rome. The village and sadly its occupants were set
on fire by the French Army during a brutal and unexpected attack at the end of the 18th century.


5. Detroit, Michigan The city of Detroit was once the 10th largest city in the United States, but due to job losses and many residents vacating, the city suffered an economic crisis and was forced to file for bankruptcy in 2013. Today many of the cities buildings are
abandoned.


6. Ross Island, India Ross Island, part of the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands of India was held under British occupation and used as a seat of power for the British during
World War II. In 1941, an earthquake shook the island causing damage and also resulted in the eventual abandonment of this site. Today many ruins remain of the once lavish buildings including the church.


7. Coimbra, Portugal The Portuguese Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha was built in the 14th century on the Mondego River in the city of Coimbra. The building
had to be abandoned in the 17th century due to repeated flooding. Today the church has been
restored and is open to visitors looking to see a glimpse of it’s beautiful past.


8. Bodie, California The town of Bodie in California’s Sierra Nevada
Mountain range boomed after gold was first discovered in 1876 and the town boomed during this rush from 1877-1880. However, like most gold rush towns, all good things must come to an end and Bodie was no different. The decline started in the early 1900′s and it’s now an abandoned ghost town with many structures like the church still standing reminding us of its once glorious past.


9. St. George’s, Bermuda The Unfinished Church sits as a reminder of what never came to be in the small town of St. George’s
on Bermuda’s northeast end. Construction on this site began in 1874 after the existing church was
damaged ‘beyond repair’ by a storm. Construction was quickly halted after a decision to repair the original church instead of building a new one and in 1926 a storm destroyed much of what
construction had been done on the ‘Unfinished Church’. Today the site is part of the St. Georges
UNESCO World Heritage Site.


10. Dumfries, Scotland The beautiful ruins of Lincluden Collegiate Church sit on the northern outskirts of Dumfries Scotland.
Founded circa 1160, this relic was later abandoned in 1700 and today the remains are a heritage
protected building which can still be visited by the public.


11. Gary, Indiana Once a booming steel town and birth place of the
Jackson 5 musical group, this town near Chicago Illinois has seen hard times as a result of the steel
industry which the city was built on. In 2013 an estimated one third of all homes were reportedly
unoccupied or abandoned as are many public buildings like the city’s Methodist Church featured
below.


12. Ani, Turkey Ani was once the capital city of the medieval
Armenian Kingdom that covered much of what is now Armenia and Eastern Turkey. Between 961 –
1045 it played an important role as it stood on many trade routes and its building were considered some of the most technologically and artistically advanced in the world. Ani was later abandoned during the 16th and 17th centuries
but remnants of this ‘City of 1001 Churches’ still remain today including the Church of the
Redeemer seen below.

still prevail

fingard02k: Still prevail

[url=Obinoscopy]O[/url]fcourse it still does.
Ruined, abandoned or whatever, the funny thing is the ‘church’ doesn't need a church to pray or worship’.

What about the temple built by Solomon in 1st kings 6, which was meant to be built by David, his father. Does it still exist or abandoned?

church or motel

Hmm

Tolexander: What about the temple built by Solomon in 1st kings 6, which was meant to be built by David, his father. Does it still exist or abandoned?

That church was first demolished by Gen Titus in 70AD. Was rebuilt for use till Salladin led some Islamic Jihadists to overthrow and capture jerusalem 9 yrs after the death of ProfMohamed. Today its a mosque. Temple mount is now alasqa masjid in east jerusalem

ZKOSOSO:

That church was first demolished by Gen Titus in 70AD. Was rebuilt for use till Salladin led some Islamic Jihadists to overthrow and capture jerusalem 9 yrs after the death of ProfMohamed. Today its a mosque. Temple mount is now alasqa masjid in east jerusalem

saladin of the 3rd crusade?
9years after Prophet Mohamad?

ZKOSOSO:

That church was first demolished by Gen Titus in 70AD. Was rebuilt for use till Salladin led some Islamic Jihadists to overthrow and capture jerusalem 9 yrs after the death of ProfMohamed. Today its a mosque. Temple mount is now alasqa masjid in east jerusalem

alaqsa masjid has always been a mosque of Allah and was rebuilt by caliph umar(RA).

From house of God to house of doG. No difference if you ask me.

I see investment opportunity.