Church of the Immaculate Conception, Roman Catholic pro-cathedral in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic church in Baku, completed in 2006 to a design by Italian architect Paolo Ruggiero. Its postmodern façade recalls the Gothic Revival style of the 1912 original church, and a statue of the Virgin Mary by local sculptors stands over the entrance. Inside, 200 benches fill the nave.
The original Church of the Immaculate Conception served Baku's Catholics from 1915 until 1931, when the Soviet government ordered it destroyed. The community was re-established in 1997 and the Apostolic Prefecture of Azerbaijan created in 2000. After Pope John Paul II's 2002 visit, land was granted and a new church built in 2006 to Paolo Ruggiero's design, consecrated on 29 April 2007 by Monsignor Claudio Gugerotti.
The parish is run by the Salesians of Don Bosco, a religious order founded by John Bosco. A statue of the Virgin Mary carved by local sculptors stands above the entrance. The church was consecrated on 29 April 2007 by Monsignor Claudio Gugerotti, Apostolic Nuncio in Transcaucasia.
The church stands in a different part of Baku from the 1915 original, so do not look for it on the old site. It was built to include a pastoral centre and a residence for priests, and the parish is run by the Salesians of Don Bosco, who can be asked about visiting.
The bells in the tower were donated by a former Polish head of state, highlighting the historical connection between Poland and the Catholic community in Baku. This gift symbolizes a special relationship between the two nations and their faith communities.
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