Saint Mary's Cathedral, Catholic cathedral in Botahtaung Township, Yangon, Myanmar.
Saint Mary's Cathedral is a large brick church in the Gothic Revival style with twin spires and a bell tower, located in the central Kyauktada quarter of Yangon. The facade is lined with arched windows and decorated doorways, and the interior features a row of stained glass windows along the nave.
Construction began in 1895 under Bishop Paul Bigandet and was finished in 1899, with the design coming from Dutch architect Joseph Cuypers. The church was built during the period of British colonial rule in Burma, when Catholic missionary activity in the region was growing.
The cathedral is the seat of the Archdiocese of Yangon, making it the main Catholic church in the country. On feast days like Christmas or Easter, it fills with worshippers from many different communities across the city.
The cathedral stands on Bo Aung Kyaw Street in Kyauktada, a central area that is easy to reach on foot or by public transport. Since services take place regularly, it is best to keep shoulders and knees covered and to speak quietly when entering the building.
To deal with the swampy ground, workers drove deep wooden piles made from Pyinkado wood into the soil before laying the foundation. Pyinkado is considered one of the hardest woods in Southeast Asia and has traditionally been used for work involving long exposure to water.
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