The stone cathedral at Vladivostok was never completed because of the Communist persecution. The Czech Army, part of the interventionary force trying to halt the sweep of the Communists, was the last group to try to complete the church. Work halted in 1922, leaving the building without bell towers.

 

Cathedral as it currently appears.		Artist's rendition of cathedral drawn from original architectural plans.

 

Front view of the cathedral with construction of the bell towers. March, 2008
Construction begins! Bricks are laid for the foundation of both bell tower bases. March, 2008

The cathedral already has the bells to be placed in the bell towers. The bells are a gift from the Siberian Society of Poland, a group that exists in many countries to which Poles fled after escaping from Communist Siberia. The Society produces and sends church bells to Russia to celebrate the new freedom of the Church.

Vladivostok has received four bells courtesy of the Society. The bells are named St. Mary, St. Gabriel, St. Joseph, and St. Raphael Kalinovsky. (St. Raphael is a newly canonized Polish saint who lived for many years in Siberia.)

 

Two of four bells donated to Vladivostok cathedral. They wait in church vestibule until funds can be raised to build bell towers.

The bells were blessed by the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, during his visit to Poland in June 1999. To learn more about the bells, please see the November 2000 issue of the Vladivostok Sunrise.