Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Cathedral, Ha Noi

We bimbled from our digs, walked along the road, one back and a bit further, there we were, St. Joseph’s Cathedral. At first we thought a wedding had just happened but soon knew it was a shoot. The first Catholic mission was founded in 1679. In 1882 the French conquered Ha Noi. In 1884 they wanted a prime site on which to build a cathedral. They chose an area called Nha Chung an ancient capital, destroyed a pagoda called Bao Thien that had been built by the Ly Dynasty (10th and 11th centuries) and started to build in 1884.

We walk past mock wedding, not sure about the groom in stocking feet or hoisting the ‘bride’.

St. Joseph’s Cathedral was inaugurated on Christmas Day 1886. The gothic-style Cathedral is 64.5 metres in length, 20.5 metres wide and the twin bell towers are 31.5 metres in height. The appearance from the outside is very Western and very tired (the city is hugely polluted and the staining shows) but inside it is very Vietnamese with lots of red and yellow.

We stepped in through the side door and to the right found a side altar to Saint Theresa of Lisieux (1873-1897), further along on the right is a lovely Lady altar and at the far end in a curtained area (not sure why) is Saint Anthony of Padua holding Baby Jesus, to the left of the curtain, on her own is an Our Lady statue.

The altar is elaborate and the stained-glass windows are very beautiful above the classic Saint Joseph holding Baby Jesus. The lectern fresh and somewhat modern-looking.

Half way along the left-side of the cathedral a gorgeous altar for Our Lord with stunning plaques each side.

We passed a confessional before seeing an Asian-looking Virgin and Child by the marble Baptismal Font. In the back-left corner was a double confessional.

Looking up to the choir loft, lovely teak work and the main door.

Outside at the back left of the cathedral was a lovely French colonial house, possibly the rectory and at the back a wall frieze.

Beyond the frieze of the Wise Men and Star, a grotto with the shepherds.

At the back right corner was a rather splendid frieze showing major events in Jesus’ life.

Behind me was a statue of St. Michael doing his stuff, inside we had seen a stained glass window to him.

Plants around us.

Walking back toward the gate we really saw the staining on the outside of the building. Rather a nice statue of Jesus and the Children (HUGE hands and feet). Hysterical, we found the exit gate locked. We pulled and pulled and a local pressed a bell button. Nothing. A Japanese man tried just as the rest of his group caught up. He said something and a tiny lady stepped forward, with one hand she gripped the gate and pulled. Slowly it opened, she smiled, we dropped our jaws.......just then, the chap with the remote control came out and his jaw dropped too...... Off we went in search of the ‘Hanoi Hilton’.

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ALL IN ALL VERY FRENCH WITH LOCAL BITS

                     BEAUTIFUL INSIDE, SCRUFFY OUTSIDE