Cathedral Chaos: Letter by Letter

[B] ol | "Holy" needs its middle letters. This Sedona chapel rises from red rocks like a modernist prayer, attracting photographers and pilgrims equally.

[A] ed | "Catedral" requires "ed" in the middle. Zaragoza's baroque masterpiece supposedly marks Mary's pillar appearance, spawning centuries of architectural one-upmanship.

[D] ar | "Maria" takes its central "ar" here. Florence's dome challenged gravity and contemporary engineering, basically Brunelleschi showing off with bricks.

[B] vil | Double-L gives us "Seville" properly spelled. This Gothic giant holds Columbus's tomb, though DNA testing suggests it might be his son instead.

[A] ivit | "Nativity" needs these four letters. Bethlehem's ancient church survived because invaders mistook Persian wise men in mosaics for their ancestors.

[C] org | "George" requires "org" to complete. Ethiopia's underground marvel was carved downward into bedrock, reversing normal architectural direction.

[D] ump | "Assumption" needs "ump" in the middle. Slovenia's island sanctuary requires rowing across Lake Bled, making attendance literally require effort.

[B] ln | "Kölner" uses just "ln" here. Twin spires pierce the skyline at 515 feet, serving as Gothic GPS for lost tourists.

[A] ph | "Stephen" requires its distinctive "ph" spelling. Budapest's basilica houses their first king's mummified hand, Christianity's strangest hand-me-down.

[C] rí | Icelandic "rím" with accent completes this. The modernist church took four decades to build, possibly because workers kept mispronouncing the name.

[B] om | Italian "Duomo" needs "om" here. Milan's Gothic forest of spires supposedly inspired Disney, though Walt never confirmed the architectural plagiarism.

[C] ingt | "Washington" needs "ingt" for completion. This neo-Gothic cathedral includes a Darth Vader gargoyle, proving even stone carvers are Star Wars fans.

[A] mi | "Westminster" requires simple "mi" here. The abbey houses 3,000 burials including Darwin, ironically entombing evolution's champion in Christianity's embrace.

[D] oh | "John" needs its "oh" middle section. Malta's baroque interior is so ornate it makes Vegas look understated.

[B] pel | "Chapel" requires "pel" to complete. This Upper Room hosted the Last Supper, making it Christianity's most significant dining venue.

[D] ei | French "Reims" uses unusual "ei" spelling. Kings were crowned here for centuries, making it monarchy's favorite cathedral.

[A] ig | "Transfiguration" needs simple "ig" here. Russia's wooden masterpiece uses zero nails, held together by medieval engineering and probably prayers.

[C] ulc | "Sepulchre" needs tricky "ulc" combination. Six denominations share this Jerusalem church through agreements so complex they need lawyers and theologians.

[C] un | Norwegian "Borgund" requires "un" here. Dragon heads protect this Christian church, proving Vikings couldn't completely abandon their aesthetic.

[B] ogne | "Cologne" uses French-influenced "ogne" spelling. Allied bombers spared it during WWII as a navigation landmark, making it history's most useful religious building.

[A] il | "Basil" needs simple "il" here. Moscow's candy-colored domes originally were gold and white before someone decided boring wasn't Russian enough.

[D] in | French "Saint" requires just "in" here. This tidal island becomes inaccessible twice daily, giving monks guaranteed alone time.

[A] er | "Peter" needs standard "er" ending. The Vatican's crown jewel holds 60,000 people, though good luck finding parking for that congregation.

[B] ré | French accent makes "Sacré" sacred. Montmartre's white basilica self-cleans when it rains, basically achieving architectural enlightenment.

[D] ar | "Mark" requires simple "ar" here. Venice's golden basilica contains stolen bronze horses that traveled more than most medieval humans.

[C] art | "Chartres" needs "art" ironically. Medieval stained glass here created a blue color modern science can't replicate, proving we've actually gone backwards.

[C] ic | "Basilica" needs just "ic" here. Nazareth's modern church displays global Madonna art, like an international Mary convention.

[D] op | "Europos" requires "op" in middle. Syria's ancient church proved Christians were making art before it was legal.

[B] aj | Spanish "Lajas" needs "aj" combination. Colombia's canyon-spanning church defies gravity and common sense equally.

[A] ick | "Patrick" requires full "ick" ending. Manhattan's cathedral rejected selling to developers, proving some things transcend real estate values.