Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral |
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Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral
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| 18°20′27.64″N 64°56′12.45″W / 18.3410111°N 64.9367917°W | |
| Location | 22 Kronprindsens Gade
United States  |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | cathedralvi.org |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral/Parish church |
| Founded | 1806 |
| Dedication | Saint Peter and Saint Paul |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1848 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | St. Thomas |
Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral is a very old and important Catholic church in the United States Virgin Islands. It is the main church for the Catholic community there. This beautiful building is located in the city of Charlotte Amalie.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The Catholic Church was officially allowed in the Danish West Indies (now the U.S. Virgin Islands) in 1773. The first Catholic church building was bought from the Danish government in 1802. Sadly, it was destroyed by a fire just two years later.
Building the First Church
A new church, named after the apostles Peter and Paul, was dedicated in 1806. The first church building at the current location was finished in 1828. However, a big hurricane in 1837 damaged most of that building.
The Current Cathedral Building
The church building you see today was completed in 1848. The first priest from the Redemptorist order to lead the parish was Rev. Louis Dold. When Pope John XXIII created the Prelature of the Virgin Islands, Saints Peter and Paul Church became its main cathedral. The Redemptorist priests left the parish in 1989. After that, Msgr. Michael F. Kosak became the first priest from the local diocese to serve as the cathedral's leader.
Art and Restoration
The cathedral's ceiling features more than 12 amazing paintings. These murals show scenes from both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. In 2004, a special project began to restore and make the cathedral look new again.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de los Santos Pedro y Pablo (Charlotte Amalie) para niños
