Cathedral of the Holy Spirit
The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, alternatively known as the St. Esprit Cathedral (Turkish: Saint Esprit Kilisesi), located on Cumhuriyet Avenue, 127/A, in the quarter of Pangaltı in Şişli district,[1] the former Harbiye, between Taksim Square and Nişantaşı, is one of the principal Catholic churches in Istanbul, Turkey.[2]
Holy Spirit Cathedral of Istanbul | |
---|---|
Saint Esprit Kilisesi | |
Location | Istanbul |
Country | Turkey |
Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
History | |
Dedication | Holy Spirit |
Dedicated | 1846 |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Giuseppe Fossati |
Style | Baroque style |
It is the second largest Roman Catholic church in the city after the Basilica of S. Antonio di Padova on İstiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu.[3]
The church was built in Baroque style in 1846 under the direction of the Swiss-Italian architect Giuseppe Fossati and his colleague Julien Hillereau.
St. Esprit has been a destination of several papal visits to Turkey, including those of Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.
A statue of Pope Benedict XV stands in the courtyard of the cathedral.
Giuseppe Donizetti, a musician at the court of Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II, is buried in the vaults of the church.
References
- "Catholic Churches - - mymerhaba.com". mymerhaba.com. Archived from the original on 2017-06-03. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
- "Basilique-Cathédrale Saint-Esprit, Istanbul, Turkey". gcatholic.org. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
- "Saint Espirit Church Sisli Istanbul". Very Turkey. Retrieved 2017-06-23.