The place where the nearly 400-year-old hair of the Saint is kept

That sacred lock of hair from the 17th century is now kept at Mang Lang Church (An Thach Commune, Tuy An District, Phu Yen), one of the oldest and most impressive churches in Vietnam.

According to many documents, more than a hundred years ago, this area was a forest of Lagerstroemia (locals called it Mang Lang). In 1892, the church was built so people always called it Mang Lang Church. This place still keeps a round table with a diameter of 1.7 m made of Lagerstroemia wood from the day it was built.

Sketch by Architect Tran Xuan Hong

The church yard has a small cellar located in the heart of an artificial hill covered with green trees and grass. In the cellar is the church's "museum" with many sculptures, images, and stories about Andre Phu Yen - the first martyr of Vietnam in 1644, canonized by the Pope in 2000. His hair is currently kept here. In particular, there is also the book "8-day sermon" compiled by priest Alexandre de Rhodes (father Dac Lo). This was printed in Rome, Italy in 1651 in Latin and Quoc Ngu and brought to Vietnam to use for preaching.

Sketch by artist Tran Binh Minh

Located on an area of ​​5,000 ^m2 , Mang Lang Church has a distinct Gothic style. Specifically, the entrance is organized in the form of a three-door gate, the entrances are similarly reduced in level (creating depth). Stained glass and rose windows (circular on the facade), pointed arches...

Inside the cathedral - sketch by artist Tran Binh Minh

Corridor with pointed arches typical of Gothic architecture - sketch by artist Tran Binh Minh

The church museum is located inside an artificial hill - sketch by architect Linh Hoang

Sketch by Architect Phung The Huy

Sketch by Architect Nguyen Khanh Vu

Church seen from above - sketch by architect Nguyen Khanh Vu

After many renovations, the two bell towers and the cross on the facade are still kept as they were originally. Moss, sun and rain, and peeling cracks on the walls over time add to the ancient beauty of the church. On the door arches and pillars of the building, there are embossed European decorative motifs. The church's wooden doors are carved with traditional Vietnamese wood.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/noi-luu-giu-lon-toc-gan-400-nam-tuoi-cua-vi-a-thanh-185250524202915248.htm