A large number of reefs within the inner granitic islands of the archipelago of Seychelles could be entirely lost, unless concerted action is taken soon to control crown of thorns, warns Dr. Udo Englhardt, the expert on on the management of crown of thorns in a...
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The Immaculate Conception Cathedral or Cathedral of Victoria, is a religious building of the Catholic Church located in the town of Victoria, on the island of Mahé, capital of Seychelles. It is near the Clock Tower and the Anglican Cathedral. The church was built in 1874 in French colonial style. It was constructed on the site of the first church built in 1851 by Father Leon of Avengers. It serves as the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Seychelles and also the seat of the bishop of the Diocese of Port Victoria which was established in 1892 by Pope Leo XIII.
The Cathedral is one of the most amazing architectures, with intricate carvings and delicate tapestries, on the Mahe island. It is massive, relaxing and very peaceful. You can spend quality time there in mass, prayers and meditations. Though it is near the main road, the noise will not affect your concentration. The cathedral also holds the tomb of the first Seychellois Bishop, Felix Paul, who passed away on 21st November 2001. The tomb is not visible but its location is marked by a special plaque. In 1993-94 the cathedral was completely renovated, except for the external walls. Massive columns, arches and beautiful stained-glass windows have survived to this day, even though the cathedral was regularly reconstructed, and updated. The interior was completely redesigned – new benches were added, the altar was slightly changed, the vaults were strengthened, the stained-glass windows were restored since some of them were cracked. The last renovation was completed in 1995 when Seychellois sculptor, Egbert Marday fashioned the tabernacle and the carved doors.
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception can accommodate 700 people, making it ideal for both locals and visitors. More than half the population of Seychelles are Catholics.
The white building with its stone staircase at the main entrance is the single most outstanding feature of the cathedral. There are white stone pillars on either side of the door with stained glass windows. At the back, is the bell tower which was built in 1898. As you step inside the cathedral, you have to climb four stone steps to access the rows of pews which lead to the altar. The pews are made of wood, and there are coloured stone flags all along the aisle. The altar is always beautifully decorated with flowers adding on to the church’s peaceful ambience.
La Domus is a magnificent two-story house adjoining the Cathedral, occupied by three priests. Many of the other rooms are used as administrative offices. The house is distinguished by its magnificent granite exterior. The house constructed from granite rocks even contains an aqueduct that supplies it with water from a nearby artesian well.
It is a five minutes walk from Victoria bus station. From the bus station, turn right onto Palm Street heading west and continue straight onto Olivier Mardan Street. The Cathedral is clearly visible on the right side of the street.
Hundreds of Catholics come to the service every Sunday. The cathedral is also open to tourists. Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is located in Victoria, Seychelles with the gps coordinates of 1° 00′ 0.0″ N and 1° 00′ 0.0″ E.
The cathedral was vandalised on 10 June 2022 by persons unknown yet. All the statues and prayer stations of the cross in the cathedral have been destroyed and a fire was set to benches and crucifixes. Priceless artifacts that have been in the church for many years were broken.
Father David Alcindor of the Roman Catholic Diocese told that once the debris is cleaned a purification and reparation ritual would be held and after that the normal services will be resumed.
The President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, who strongly condemned and denounced the acts of vandalism, offered a reward of SCR 100,000 ($7,600) for anyone who can provide information to help the arrest and punishment of the culprits.
The police investigating the incident said that there were no security cameras in the church but they were checking the cameras from other nearby buildings.
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