Basilique Marie-Reine-des-Apôtres, Minor basilica in Mvolyé district, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The Basilique Marie-Reine-des-Apôtres is a religious building in the Mvolyé district defined by twelve columns representing the twelve apostles. Inside, it accommodates roughly 4000 worshippers and features a large colored glass window installation by Henri Guérin.
The Mfoundi area received its first Catholic missionaries from 1901 onwards, who established a mission station with support from the local chief. This early religious presence eventually led to the construction of this shrine as the community grew.
The name honours Mary as Queen of the Apostles; the church was proclaimed a minor basilica on 10 December 2006 by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, legate of Pope Benedict XVI. The 100 m² pastel stained-glass window is by glass painter Henri Guérin. The Black Madonna, 3.50 m tall, is carved from the wood of the sacred tree of Nkong Ondoa, and the altar is cut from granite in the shape of an abbia game token at Akok Bekoé.
The building is open to visitors daily and regularly hosts services conducted by the local archdiocese. You should expect religious activities and adjust your visit timing accordingly.
The Black Madonna, 3.50 m tall, is carved from the wood of the sacred Nkong Ondoa tree. The altar is cut from granite at Akok Bekoé in the shape of an abbia game token, and the Christ figure and tabernacle use Bamoun bronze techniques.
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