Saint Joseph Cathedral, Bucharest
| Saint Joseph Cathedral Catedrala Sfântul Iosif |
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Main facade of the Saint Joseph Cathedral
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Bucharest, Romania |
| Geographic coordinates | 44°26′32″N 26°05′29″E / 44.44222°N 26.09139°ECoordinates: 44°26′32″N 26°05′29″E / 44.44222°N 26.09139°E |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Archdiocese of Bucharest |
| Country | Romania |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Friedrich Schmidt, Carol Benesch |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Groundbreaking | 1875 |
| Completed | 1883 |
Saint Joseph Cathedral (Romanian: Catedrala Sfântul Iosif) is a historical and architectural monument located in Bucharest, and is the main place of worship which serves as Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bucharest.
The cathedral was built between 1875 - 1883 by architect Friedrich Schmidt in Vienna and Carol Benesch. Its building style belongs to historicism and especially lends style with Romanesque architecture features, with some elements of the Gothic architecture. The building is 40 m long and 22 m wide. It is the most famous Catholic church in Bucharest. The cathedral was consecrated by Archbishop Ignatius Paoli, on February 15, 1884, and was attended by "all the priests of the archdiocese, all seminarians, the entire diplomatic corps accredited in Bucharest, President of the Council of Ministers, the President of the Senate, City Hall and many others. Mihail Kogălniceanu, impressed the greatness of the worship catholic have to declare in the same year from the parliament, that this cathedral was "the most beautiful religious building that exists in Romania". "patron of the cathedral was chosen in honor of Saint Joseph and Mary (mother of Jesus). The feast day of the patron of the cathedral is March 19.
Saint Joseph is the metropolitan cathedral and seat of the archbishop. Its founder is Bishop Ignatius Paoli, from the Passionist Congregation of Monks, and he was the first Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bucharest. The money to build the cathedral came from believers in Bucharest, from various wealthy personalities, but also from foreign benefactors, acquaintances or friends of Bishop Paoli. The work was led by Dutch Passionist monk Alfons Zegers, an architect by training. He had been called to Bucharest from Passionist monastery in Dublin (Ireland), by Bishop Paoli. Since 1880, work on own were led by skilful architect Carol Benesch. The stone used in construction was brought from the quarries of Ruse, Bulgaria, and bricks were purchased from Bucharest and neighboring villages. Construction work began in the sanctuary apse, with ample facilities for land consolidation and raising it. Lack of funds and the outbreak of the Romanian War of Independence in 1877 made the work very hard to advance in stages until 1883. In the late autumn of this year construction was completed. On Friday, February 15, 1885, the Pontifical Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Ignatius Paoli for consecration and inauguration of Saint Joseph Cathedral. Archbishop was surrounded by all his priests, the seminarians studying at the seminary in carved and representatives of civil authorities: Delegate Council of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs, President of the Senate, prefect of police, the mayor of Bucharest and Bucharest entire diplomatic corps. When lifting the palace residence of the Archbishop in 1925 was built a tower in which were mounted six bells of the cathedral. The resistance of the cathedral building was put in danger since the late 1990s by Cathedral Plaza Bucharest, a building whose construction was declared illegal by Suceava Court of Appeal.
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