What's the difference between Church and Cathedral?
What's the difference between Church and Cathedral? I think many Chinese like me can't tell their difference.

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Hi Keren,
 The general assumption is that a cathedral is just a large church. However, this is not actually the case. There is a very specific criteria that a church must meet in order to be considered to qualify as being a cathedral.
The difference between a church and a cathedral is simply that a cathedral is a church that also serves as the seat of the bishop. Normally it is the main church of the dioceses. In most cases the cathedral will be the largest and most impressive church in the dioceses.
Kind regards,
    Georg

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In Chinese you say "教堂“ and ”大教堂” right? I think the difference lies right here, to keep it simple and brief just remember that a cathedral is much more 大 than a church.

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@David Heaney Thank you so much. O(∩_∩)O~~

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Georg is correct. The word Cathedral is derived from Cathedra which is the chair that a bishop sits in and is a symbol of his authority as Bishop. When you visit a Cathedral, you will find that chair (almost like a throne) usually behind the altar. When the Catholic Pope (who is the Bishop of Rome) issues a teaching that has the authority of church law, it is said that he has spoken "Ex Cathedra" or from his chair, the symbol of his authority. 
This is probably more than you wanted...ha ha. Dui bu qi.

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