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Church of the Immaculate Conception, Baku

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The Church of the Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception
Azerbaijani: Müqəddəs Bakirə Məryəm kilsəsi
Russian: Церковь Непорочного Зачатия Пресвятой Девы Марии
The cathedral, in 2021
The cathedral, in 2021
40°22′47″N 49°52′36″E / 40.3798°N 49.8767°E
Location Orujev Street, 2A, Baku
Country Azerbaijan
Denomination Roman Catholic
History
Status Cathedral
Dedication Virgin Mary
Consecrated 29 April 2007
Architecture
Functional status Active
Architect Paolo Ruggiero
Architectural type Church
Style Postmodern
Completed 2006
Clergy
Priest(s) Fr. Martin Bonkalo, SDB

Church of the Immaculate Conception, Baku — The Church of the Virgin Mary's Immaculate Conception (Azerbaijani: Müqəddəs Bakirə Məryəm kilsəsi; Russian: Церковь Непорочного Зачатия Пресвятой Девы Марии) is a Roman Catholic church in Baku, Azerbaijan. The original church, also named Church of the Immaculate Conception operated from 1915 to 1931, when it was ordered destroyed by the Soviet government.

In 2006, a new Catholic Church bearing the same name was rebuilt in a different part of Baku. On 29 April 2007, the new church was consecrated by Apostolic Nuncio in Transcaucasia, Monsignor Claudio Gugerotti. The parish is administered by the Salesians of Don Bosco.

History

In 1997, the Catholic community of Baku was re-established. In 2000, the Apostolic Prefecture of Azerbaijan was created. After Pope John Paul II's visit to Azerbaijan in 2002, it was granted land to build a new church.[1] The cornerstone of the new church was blessed by John Paul II.[2] The new Church of the Virgin Mary's Immaculate Conception was built in 2006, in a different spot of Baku according to the Italian architect Paolo Ruggiero's project. The church was completed in the postmodern style and the façade recalls some of the Gothic Revival style of the 1912 original church.[2] The church was designed to have a pastoral center and a residency for priests.[2] The statue of the Virgin Mary by local sculptors was set up over the entrance of the church which has 200 benches. The church bells were a present from Lech Kaczyński, then President of Poland.[3] On 29 April 2007 the Apostolic Nuncio in Transcaucasia Monsignor Claudio Gugerotti administered the rite of consecration of the church.[4] The church was dedicated on Sunday, March 7, 2008, by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.[5]

See also

References

  1. Back to citation "Foundation-laying Ceremony of Catholic Church Held in Baku". Today.az. September 13, 2005. Retrieved August 19, 2006.
  2. Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Back to citation occurrence 2.2 Zenit Staff (September 14, 2005). "Azerbaijani Catholics Get Papal Praise". Zenit. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  3. Back to citation History of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan. Polonia Azerbaijan.
  4. Back to citation "The Church of the Virgin Mary's Immaculate Conception". Catholic.az. 2007. Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  5. Back to citation Zenit Staff (March 9, 2008). "Azerbaijan Inaugurates 1st Catholic Church". Zenit. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  • "Home page". Catholic Church in Azerbaijan. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
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