THESSALONIKI CATHOLIC CHURCH:
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHEDRAL
Last update: November 20, 2020
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral is a beautiful Catholic church located on 19 Frangon Street in the center of Thessaloniki. Frangon (referring to the “Franks“) is the main street of a historical neighborhood close to the port of the city where the European merchants used to live (“Le quartier franc” or “Frangomachalas”). The church was designed in 1897 by the Italian architect Vitaliano Poselli and its construction was completed between 1899 and 1902 in the late period of the Ottoman rule. It took the place of an older Catholic temple (dated to 1743) that was destroyed by fire and it remains the only Catholic church in Thessaloniki.
The cathedral is a three-aisled basilica and it reflects the style of the European Renaissance. It is one of the hidden gems of Thessaloniki and another example of the city’s diverse cultural character that is evident throughout its entire history. Despite its unique architecture – for the standards of Thessaloniki – the cathedral today usually gets passed unnoticed since it is squeezed in a small site, surrounded by newer and higher buildings (to see how the temple looked in the past, see the old, black and white picture below).
At the Cathedral, you can attend Roman rite masses (held in Greek and English – you can find the schedule here) or watch special annual events such as the Catholic Christmas concert performed by the students of the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki. The conservatory is housed in the adjacent building of the former Ottoman Bank (also designed by Vitaliano Poselli) and it was established in 1914 for the promotion of European music. In view of the fact that this year (2020) is unlikely there are going to be any festive events, you can get a glimpse of the wonderful concert that was held at the church οn December 18, 2019 in the video below.
During a typical day, you can visit the Catholic church to see its religious paintings and sculptures, the architectural details of the building, and the impressive stained glass windows with abstract patterns and illustrations of saints and the Virgin. The entrance to the Cathedral is free and it can be visited during the morning hours or during the masses. The area around Frangon Street is part of the popular and lively Upper Ladadika and Valaoritou districts with many bars and restaurants.
