Phat Diem Stone Church

Phat Diem Cathedral was built in the late 19th century. (Photo: Vietnam+) — Phat Diem Cathedral was built in the late 19th century.

Phat Diem Cathedral is a Catholic church complex located on an area of 22 hectares in Phat Diem town, Kim Son district, Ninh Binh province.

Not only is Phat Diem Stone Church a common cultural and spiritual center for the parishioners in the Kim Son area, but it is also a unique architectural masterpiece that attracts tourists from near and far to visit and admire.

This is not only a harmonious and distinctive blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles, but also a remarkable achievement left by our ancestors for future generations.

The structure of Phat Diem stone church

The Phat Diem Stone Church was built in the late 19th century by Father Peter Tran Luc (also known as Father Sau), who was appointed parish priest of Phat Diem in 1865, after many years of research, completing the architectural sketches, and concentrating financial and material resources.

The Phat Diem church complex includes a pond, a pavilion, the main church, four side churches, three artificial grottoes, and a stone church.

Phat Diem Cathedral was built entirely of stone and ironwood. The wood was sourced from various localities such as Nghe An , Thanh Hoa, and Son Tay… The stone was brought from Thien Duong mountain, 30km from Phat Diem. More precious stones were taken from Nhoi mountain near Thanh Hoa provincial capital, 60km away.

There were logs weighing up to 7 tons and slabs of stone weighing up to 20 tons that were transported using rudimentary means in the late 19th century.

The Phat Diem Cathedral complex also features many exquisitely carved details. Around the structure are countless familiar images from Vietnamese villages, such as pine, chrysanthemum, bamboo, apricot blossom, and lotus flowers…

The entire wooden structure, the church's interior, and the side walls are made of large-trunked ironwood. The roof is covered with traditional curved tiles, a type of tile commonly found in temples and pagodas.

A highlight of the architecture of Phat Diem Stone Cathedral is the harmonious blend of Eastern and Western styles. All elements are arranged according to an overall plan in the shape of the Chinese character "Wang" (王). The open and closed spaces clearly reflect an Eastern landscape style – a lake in front and mountains behind – in accordance with the East Asian concept of "water in front, mountains behind," wishing for good fortune and peace in life.

Pavilion

One of the architectural masterpieces within the Phat Diem Cathedral complex is the square pavilion (meaning "square house").

From the moment they step inside the courtyard, visitors will be amazed and astonished by the large pavilion, measuring 24m in length, 25m in height, and 17m in depth. It has three levels and is almost perfectly square, constructed from solid blocks of green stone.

The largest lower level is built entirely of square blue stones, divided into three chambers, each containing a stone platform. The platform in the middle chamber is the largest, a block measuring 4.2m long, 3.2m wide, and 0.3m thick.

The second floor houses a large drum. The third floor features a bell, 1.4 meters high, 1.1 meters in diameter, and weighing nearly 2 tons, cast in 1890.

The pavilion's roof has five arches, four at the corners being lower, with the highest arch in the middle of the third floor. The roof isn't a towering spire like Western Catholic churches, but rather a low, curved, ancient style reminiscent of Vietnamese village communal houses and temples. The two outer walls of the pavilion feature stone railings shaped like bamboo, and the outer walls of the lower floor are adorned with bas-reliefs depicting the story of Jesus from his entry into Jerusalem to his ascension to heaven.

Church of the Sacred Heart of Mary (stone church)

When talking about Phat Diem Cathedral, one cannot fail to mention the stone church, also known as the church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Mary. This structure, measuring 15.3m long, 8.5m wide, and 6m high, was the first to be built within this complex of historical sites by Mr. Sau.

It's called the stone church because everything in it is made of stone, from the foundation, walls, columns, window bars, tower, and altar...

The interior of the stone church is adorned with many beautiful bas-reliefs, especially the four auspicious plants: pine, plum, chrysanthemum, and bamboo, symbolizing the weather and unique beauty of the four seasons. The carvings of animals such as lions and phoenixes are incredibly lifelike.

The large church building

The centerpiece and highlight of the complex is the cathedral, inaugurated in 1891, now the cathedral of the Bishop of Phat Diem.

The church is 74 meters long and 21 meters wide, with four intricately carved roofs and six rows of solid ironwood columns; the two central rows of columns are 11 meters high, each weighing 10 tons.

The main altar is a single block of stone measuring 3m long, 0.9m wide, and 0.8m high, with floral carvings on three sides.

The Phát Diệm Cathedral shares similarities with Western cathedrals in its architecture, featuring a long nave and a traditional layout consisting of 10 bays with 9 tiered roofs. The roof system is divided into two levels, separated by windows to let in light and create a soaring effect. This is similar to the tiered roof structure found in Vietnamese temple architecture.

At the rear of the church, the vestibule is constructed from a single block of granite, with a vaulted section forming five entrances to the church. Both the floor plan and the facade are stepped, with the highest point at the central entrance and gradually decreasing towards the sides.

The top of the tower is covered with curved tiles, and the eaves are gracefully curved, suggesting a subtle blend of Eastern and Gothic (Western) architectural styles.

Another point worth mentioning is that the gilded and lacquered wooden religious artifacts in the church evoke a traditional Vietnamese worship space.

In addition to the aforementioned structures, each side of the main cathedral features two smaller churches situated next to each other: St. Peter's Church, St. Joseph's Church, St. Bocco's Church, and the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Each church has a different design, both in its exterior and interior.

The three artificial grottoes north of Phat Diem Cathedral were created using blocks of stone of varying sizes, retaining their natural appearance. Each grotto features large statues.

Despite surviving over 100 years of natural disasters and wars, the structure remains sturdy and has preserved its original state to this day.

The Phat Diem Cathedral complex was classified as a National Historical and Cultural Monument in 1988.

With its magnificent architecture, a harmonious and sophisticated blend of Western church architecture and traditional Eastern architecture, the Phat Diem Cathedral complex has become an indispensable part of Ninh Binh tourism , offering fascinating discoveries for visitors exploring the area.

TH (according to Vietnam+)

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