Beautiful Sunday In Istanbul
Sunday greetings:
It was a wonderful Sunday here in Istanbul that started with mass today in English at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. It took about an hour to get there from our hotel taking the metro and then a fairly decent walk; very much well worth it! There was a very large portrait of St. John XXIII in a side altar. Here are pictures of both the church and the portrait.
The office of Archbishop Gonzalez is in a building behind this cathedral. The Apostolic Nuncio, who is actually an American from Boston (Most Reverend Paul Russell) also has a place of residence in this building for when he is in Istanbul. His primary office and residence is in Ankara, which is the capital of Turkey and 300 miles south of Istanbul. In my communications with his office they indicated he very much likes meeting with people interested in St. John XXIII. Unfortunately, he will not be in Istanbul until next week.
So tomorrow we will be meeting with representatives from the archbishop's office in hopes they can show us the sites, items, areas, etc. that were pertinent to Monsignor Roncalli when stationed here in Istanbul.
About a 30-40 minute walk from the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit is St. Anthony's Catholic Church, which seems to get a bit more notoreity than the cathedral. It was a beautiful church outside and stunning inside. It also have a large statue of St. John XXIII with the dove (symbol of peace) outside the church. I was first made aware of this statue years back from former RHS parent and still ardent RHS supporter, Tom Eckridge, who traveled to Istanbul frequently for work. Thank you Tom for planting that seed for me to get to Istanbul so I can see it in person. Another item of note for those RHS faculty/staff that have made the pilgrimage to Sotte il Monte and to the pope's former summer home (Ca Maitino) - There is a room at Ca Maitino that houses all sorts of gifts that had been given to the pope from dignitaries who had visited with him through the years. In that collection is a small model version of St. Anthony's Church here in Istanbul. In addition to a picture of St. Anthony Church and the St. John XXIII statue, I am including a picture of the sanctuary of St. Anthony's as it was stunning.
Not only am I an ardent fan of St. John XXIII, I also have long been an admirer of St. Maximilian Kolbe, the Polish priest who gave his life in a very dramatic story while imprisoned at Auschwitz. Outside St. Anthony's Church they have an extensive display in memory of St. Maximilian. I could not locate anyone today that could tell me why they had such an exhibit? I have read the book, "Maximilian Kolbe: Saint of Auschwitz." This display today was as extensive as the book and had some incredible pictures. There is a powerful picture taken at the canonization ceremony for St. Maximilian in 1981 that has Pope John Paul II in an embrace with the man whose life Maximilian Kolbe saved that dreadful day at Auschwitz in 1941. Here is a copy of that powerful picture.
We did a lot of walking today but it was a great day. For those of you that might consider yourself "foodies" I must say that our food here in Istanbul has been SCRUMPTIOUS. Far and away the best food we have had on the trip. I would say our three dinner meals here have been three of the best meals I have had ever in a restaurant.
It was a wonderful Sunday here in Istanbul that started with mass today in English at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. It took about an hour to get there from our hotel taking the metro and then a fairly decent walk; very much well worth it! There was a very large portrait of St. John XXIII in a side altar. Here are pictures of both the church and the portrait.
The office of Archbishop Gonzalez is in a building behind this cathedral. The Apostolic Nuncio, who is actually an American from Boston (Most Reverend Paul Russell) also has a place of residence in this building for when he is in Istanbul. His primary office and residence is in Ankara, which is the capital of Turkey and 300 miles south of Istanbul. In my communications with his office they indicated he very much likes meeting with people interested in St. John XXIII. Unfortunately, he will not be in Istanbul until next week.
So tomorrow we will be meeting with representatives from the archbishop's office in hopes they can show us the sites, items, areas, etc. that were pertinent to Monsignor Roncalli when stationed here in Istanbul.
About a 30-40 minute walk from the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit is St. Anthony's Catholic Church, which seems to get a bit more notoreity than the cathedral. It was a beautiful church outside and stunning inside. It also have a large statue of St. John XXIII with the dove (symbol of peace) outside the church. I was first made aware of this statue years back from former RHS parent and still ardent RHS supporter, Tom Eckridge, who traveled to Istanbul frequently for work. Thank you Tom for planting that seed for me to get to Istanbul so I can see it in person. Another item of note for those RHS faculty/staff that have made the pilgrimage to Sotte il Monte and to the pope's former summer home (Ca Maitino) - There is a room at Ca Maitino that houses all sorts of gifts that had been given to the pope from dignitaries who had visited with him through the years. In that collection is a small model version of St. Anthony's Church here in Istanbul. In addition to a picture of St. Anthony Church and the St. John XXIII statue, I am including a picture of the sanctuary of St. Anthony's as it was stunning.
Not only am I an ardent fan of St. John XXIII, I also have long been an admirer of St. Maximilian Kolbe, the Polish priest who gave his life in a very dramatic story while imprisoned at Auschwitz. Outside St. Anthony's Church they have an extensive display in memory of St. Maximilian. I could not locate anyone today that could tell me why they had such an exhibit? I have read the book, "Maximilian Kolbe: Saint of Auschwitz." This display today was as extensive as the book and had some incredible pictures. There is a powerful picture taken at the canonization ceremony for St. Maximilian in 1981 that has Pope John Paul II in an embrace with the man whose life Maximilian Kolbe saved that dreadful day at Auschwitz in 1941. Here is a copy of that powerful picture.
Excited for tomorrow to meet with the representatives of the nuncio's office and possibly even meet the Archbishop himself. Anxious to share it all with you!
Enjoy your Sunday as ours is about over here in Turkey!
God bless
Oops - almost forgot; more pictures to view if you wish on Jane's Facebook page.
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