1 . History of the construction.
In 1882, French bishop, His Grace Puginier, (also known as Đức Cha Phước in Vietnamese), started the construction of the "Grand church", which is familiarly called “Nhà Thờ Lớn”. The plans for the church was Gothic style - 64,5 m in length with twelve bays, 20,5 m in width with five arches and two bell-towers of 31,5 m in height.
According to some historical documents, such as “La vie de Mgr. Puginier” (Life of Mgr. Puginier) of Louvet, the historical novel "The Shadows Surface Water of the Lake of the Sword” of Chu Thiên and various parts of files consulted with the Missions Foreign of Paris (Missions Etrangères de Paris, M.E.P); The grounds where “Grand church” and “common house” (Nhà Chung) are, was in the past the Bao Thien Pagoda (Báo Thiên Tự) which was built during the Ly dynasty (1009 to 1225).
Time, bad weather and the wars were various causes for the collapse of the building. The ground remained without a proprietor, was soon claimed by the State. The governor of Hanoi at that time, Mr. Nguyen Huu Do, gave it to Bishop Puginier for construction of the church.
To obtain the financial resources to build "Grand church" (the sum envisaged rose to 200.000 France francs), the bishop requested authorities of Protectorate an authorization of organizeing a tombola intended to collect funds. This permission was refused twice before it was finally allowed. The tombola had two raffles, One in 1883 and the other in 1886. The sums collected from these two lotteries (approximately 30.000 France francs) and the contributions of many others, as well as the efforts by Mgr. Punginer resulted in the “Grand church” of Hanoi being built by Vietnamese artists and craftsmen on a goodwill basis.
2 . Cultural value
The Technique used for the construction of "Grand church" in Hanoi profited from the assets and the spirit of European architecture. It also exploited the tradition of architectural main road. Thus, this building which became familiar with all and harmonized with the whole landscape of Hanoi, is recognized like making part of the invaluable cultural inheritance of the nation. It is today a component of the architectural heritage of the capital,.
In Europe, the churches were build of stone. However, the "Grand church" of Hanoi wass built out of clay bricks and its walls are covered with thick cement. It constitutes truly a work representative of architectural art Gothic. One finds a grand entrance door, two small doors on the side of each turn. The doors, like the whole windows were also constructed with the Gothic style. The images are holy on the colored stained glasses, which light harmoniously the interior of the church with a natural light. The sanctuary is in a traditional Vietnamese manner with woodcarvings red lacquer painted with gold of a grand smoothness and beautiful originality. The church is placed under the patronage of Saint Joseph, who faithful catholics admire. There is a clay statue of the Saint - two meters high, posed on a grand pedestal.
A total of five bells - four small and one grand - cost 20.000 France francs at the time of the construction of the church. The Grand clock, fixed on the principal frontage, announces the hours, the quarters from hour, thanks to a system connecting it to the five bells suspended on the tops of the two bell-towers.
In the center of the ground which extends in front of the "Grand church", is a statue of the cast iron “Regina Pacis”. Around it, is a walk with grand flowered vases. Behind, draws up a cave. However, currently the whole of surroundings where the Cathedral is located is invaded with foreign elements which broke the harmony that this space maintained with the majesty of the building and carry wrong to the solemnity of the unit.
3. Religious value.
Today, the church of Hanoi is the Cathedral of the diocese of Hanoi. It is also the mother church to more than 480 other small churches and grand of the diocese. It’s location in the district Hoàn Kiếm, in the center of the capital of Hanoi (close to the Hoan Kiem lake) is a place particularly convenient for the faithful catholics in the capital, and especially for foreign tourists. Everyday, mass is celebrated to a large congregation. The Archbishop of Hanoi celebrated the Eucharistic at the solemn masses. Today, the Cathedral of Hanoi is the center of the religious activities for 400.000 Catholics of the diocese of Hanoi. With its request and to answer the desires the faithful ones of the capital, Cardinal Paul Joseph Pham Dinh Tung proceeded to dedication of the cathedral, May 1, 1999. We hope that the "Grand church" of Hanoi will be Basilica in the future.
Translated from Vietnamese by P.Thien.
In 1882, French bishop, His Grace Puginier, (also known as Đức Cha Phước in Vietnamese), started the construction of the "Grand church", which is familiarly called “Nhà Thờ Lớn”. The plans for the church was Gothic style - 64,5 m in length with twelve bays, 20,5 m in width with five arches and two bell-towers of 31,5 m in height.
According to some historical documents, such as “La vie de Mgr. Puginier” (Life of Mgr. Puginier) of Louvet, the historical novel "The Shadows Surface Water of the Lake of the Sword” of Chu Thiên and various parts of files consulted with the Missions Foreign of Paris (Missions Etrangères de Paris, M.E.P); The grounds where “Grand church” and “common house” (Nhà Chung) are, was in the past the Bao Thien Pagoda (Báo Thiên Tự) which was built during the Ly dynasty (1009 to 1225).
Time, bad weather and the wars were various causes for the collapse of the building. The ground remained without a proprietor, was soon claimed by the State. The governor of Hanoi at that time, Mr. Nguyen Huu Do, gave it to Bishop Puginier for construction of the church.
To obtain the financial resources to build "Grand church" (the sum envisaged rose to 200.000 France francs), the bishop requested authorities of Protectorate an authorization of organizeing a tombola intended to collect funds. This permission was refused twice before it was finally allowed. The tombola had two raffles, One in 1883 and the other in 1886. The sums collected from these two lotteries (approximately 30.000 France francs) and the contributions of many others, as well as the efforts by Mgr. Punginer resulted in the “Grand church” of Hanoi being built by Vietnamese artists and craftsmen on a goodwill basis.
2 . Cultural value
The Technique used for the construction of "Grand church" in Hanoi profited from the assets and the spirit of European architecture. It also exploited the tradition of architectural main road. Thus, this building which became familiar with all and harmonized with the whole landscape of Hanoi, is recognized like making part of the invaluable cultural inheritance of the nation. It is today a component of the architectural heritage of the capital,.
In Europe, the churches were build of stone. However, the "Grand church" of Hanoi wass built out of clay bricks and its walls are covered with thick cement. It constitutes truly a work representative of architectural art Gothic. One finds a grand entrance door, two small doors on the side of each turn. The doors, like the whole windows were also constructed with the Gothic style. The images are holy on the colored stained glasses, which light harmoniously the interior of the church with a natural light. The sanctuary is in a traditional Vietnamese manner with woodcarvings red lacquer painted with gold of a grand smoothness and beautiful originality. The church is placed under the patronage of Saint Joseph, who faithful catholics admire. There is a clay statue of the Saint - two meters high, posed on a grand pedestal.
A total of five bells - four small and one grand - cost 20.000 France francs at the time of the construction of the church. The Grand clock, fixed on the principal frontage, announces the hours, the quarters from hour, thanks to a system connecting it to the five bells suspended on the tops of the two bell-towers.
In the center of the ground which extends in front of the "Grand church", is a statue of the cast iron “Regina Pacis”. Around it, is a walk with grand flowered vases. Behind, draws up a cave. However, currently the whole of surroundings where the Cathedral is located is invaded with foreign elements which broke the harmony that this space maintained with the majesty of the building and carry wrong to the solemnity of the unit.
3. Religious value.
Today, the church of Hanoi is the Cathedral of the diocese of Hanoi. It is also the mother church to more than 480 other small churches and grand of the diocese. It’s location in the district Hoàn Kiếm, in the center of the capital of Hanoi (close to the Hoan Kiem lake) is a place particularly convenient for the faithful catholics in the capital, and especially for foreign tourists. Everyday, mass is celebrated to a large congregation. The Archbishop of Hanoi celebrated the Eucharistic at the solemn masses. Today, the Cathedral of Hanoi is the center of the religious activities for 400.000 Catholics of the diocese of Hanoi. With its request and to answer the desires the faithful ones of the capital, Cardinal Paul Joseph Pham Dinh Tung proceeded to dedication of the cathedral, May 1, 1999. We hope that the "Grand church" of Hanoi will be Basilica in the future.
Translated from Vietnamese by P.Thien.
