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Roman Catholic Diocese of Chanthaburi

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Diocese of Chanthaburi

Dioecesis Chanthaburiensis

สังฆมณฑลจันทบุรี
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Location
Country Thailand
MetropolitanRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangkok
Statistics
Area34,000 km2 (13,000 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2006)
4,445,881
37,149 (0.8%)
Information
DenominationCatholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
CathedralCathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Chanthaburi
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopSede vacante
Metropolitan ArchbishopKriengsak Kovitvanit
Bishops emeritusLawrence Thienchai Samanchit Bishop Emeritus (1971-2009)
Map

The (Roman Catholic) Diocese of Chanthaburi (Dioecesis Chanthaburiensis, Thai: สังฆมณฑลจันทบุรี) is located in eastern central Thailand. It is a suffragan diocese of the archdiocese of Bangkok.

The diocese covers an area of 34,000 km2, covering the provinces - Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachinburi, Rayong, Sa Kaeo and Trat, as well as the parts east of the Bang Pa Kong River in Chachoengsao, and Nakhon Nayok except the district Ban Na.

As of 2009, of the 4.4 million citizens 38,918 are member of the Catholic Church. It is divided into 42 parishes, having 112 priests altogether.

History

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On May 11, 1944, the Vicariate Apostolic of Chantaburi was split off from the Vicariate Apostolic of Bangkok. On December 18, 1965, it was elevated to a diocese.[citation needed]

Cathedral

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The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Thai: อาสนวิหารพระนางมารีอาปฏิสนธินิรมล) 12°36′33.5″N 102°7′7″E / 12.609306°N 102.11861°E / 12.609306; 102.11861 is the largest church of Thailand. A first missionary chapel was built at the site in 1711. After being enlarged and rebuilt four times during the nineteenth century, especially due to the immigration of Vietnamese Christian fleeing religious persecution in the home country. In 1909 it was rebuilt in its current Gothic style. It is located at the Chanthanimit Road on the left bank of the Chanthaburi River. During World War II the spires were taken down to make the church a less obvious navigational aid to allied bombers; they have since been replaced.

Bishops

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Before the vicariate apostolic was elevated to a diocese, the bishops were assigned a titular see.

See also

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References

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