The Cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Saigon, and is where the chair of the Archbishop of Saigon, who has a strong influence on the religious life of Catholic adherents in the south of Vietnam, is located. Since it is located right next to the Saigon Central Post Office, it is recommended that you visit these two attractions and the nearby Independence Palace at the same time.
This church was crowned the Basilica title in 1962 and is one of the only four Basilicas in Vietnam for its important role in the Vietnamese Catholic community. The construction work of this Basilica began in 1877 and lasted for three years under the supervision of J. Bourad, who was the designer of this building. The inauguration mass of the cathedral took place on April 11, 1880. The most special thing about this church is that it has a diverse system of stained-glass windows depicting Saints and stories in the Bible. In addition, it is one of the few churches in Vietnam that has a real pipe organ, which is deemed the king of instruments. However, it has been severely damaged and can no longer be used and has been replaced by an electronic pipe organ produced by Rodgers.
Outside the main building lies a small garden that has the statue of Mary - Queen of Peace. This statue, which is made from marble, was completed by the Italian Sculptor G. Ciocchetti in 1959. Please note that the church is undergoing a major restoration and entries outside of mass times are not allowed.
Related Posts
