St. John the Baptist Church, Samarkand

St. John the Baptist Church
Церковь святого Иоанна Крестителя
Location	Samarkand
Country	Uzbekistan
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church

The St. John the Baptist Church^[1] (Russian: Церковь святого Иоанна Крестителя) It is the only Catholic church in the city of Samarkand,^[2] in the Asian country of Uzbekistan,^[3] where 95% are Muslims. It depends on the Apostolic Administration of Uzbekistan based in Tashkent.

In the times of the Russian Empire in the nineteenth century a small Catholic minority in Samarkand formed by merchants and employees of Polish or German origin settled in the place. They asked permission to build a church in 1905, but were denied. In 1915 a number of Polish prisoners of war (originating in Poland, Prussia and Austria) were added, so it was possible that the Catholic community could build his church. They bought the land in the present street Makhmud Kochgari. Neo-Gothic church was built by architect Nelle - and was completed in 1916. It was closed by the authorities of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic in 1930; to install a school.

In 1995, at the initiative of Father Ivan Rolloff the Catholic community of the city obtained permission to officially register and recover the building in 1997. After restoration work, the church is dedicated on March 27, 1999.

Today the community is run by a Polish priest, Father Luciano Szymanski assisted by two brothers of a Polish Franciscan monastery.

See also

• Roman Catholicism in Uzbekistan
• St. John the Baptist Church (disambiguation)

Internal view

References

Tourist attractions in Uzbekistan
World Heritage Sites	Listed Historic Centre of Bukhara Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz Itchan Kala Samarkand – Crossroads of Cultures Western Tien-Shan Tentative list Abdulkhan Bandi Dam Akhsikath Ak Astana-Baba Ancient Termiz Ancient Pap Andijan Arab-Ata Mausoleum Bahoutdin Architectural Complex Boysun Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum Chor-Bakr Desert Castles of Ancient Khorezm Gissar Mountains Historic Centre of Qoqon Kanka Khanbandi Khazarasp Minaret in Vobkent Mir-Sayid Bakhrom Mausoleum Poykent Rabati Malik Caravanserai Sarmishsay Shahrukhiya Sheikh Mukhtar-Vali Complex Shokhimardon Silk Road Sites in Uzbekistan Siypantosh Rock Paintings Varakhsha Zaamin Mountains Zarautsoy Rock Paintings
Cultural	Archaeological sites Afrasiyab Akhsikath Ancient Pap Burchmulla Dalverzin Tepe Hazorasp Itchan Kala Khalchayan Khiva Koi Krylgan Kala Obi-Rakhmat Grotto Orlat plaques Poykent Sarmishsay Shahrukhiya Siypantosh Rock Paintings Zarautsoy Rock Paintings Complexes Bahoutdin Architectural Complex Lyab-i Hauz Po-i-Kalyan Registan Forts Ark of Bukhara Urda fortress Madrasas Kukeldash Madrasa The Madrasa of Abulkosim Madrasah of Nadir Divan-begi Mir-i Arab Madrasa Sher-Dor Madrasah Tilya-Kori Madrasah Ulugh Beg Madrasa Mausoleums Ak Astana-Baba Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum Chor-Bakr Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum of Sheikh Zaynudin Mir-Sayid Bakhrom Mausoleum Saif ed-Din Bokharzi & Bayan-Quli Khan Mausoleums Samanid Mausoleum Sayyed Bahram Mausoleum Shah-i-Zinda Sheikh Mukhtar-Vali Complex Sheihantaur Sultan Saodat Museums Afrasiab Museum of Samarkand Amir Timur Museum Art Gallery of Uzbekistan Bukhara State Architectural Art Museum-Preserve Memorial house museum of Tamara Khanum Museum Afshona Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan The Museum of Communication History in Uzbekistan Museum of Geology The Museum of Health Care of Uzbekistan Museum of Olympic Glory Museum of Victims of Political Repression in Tashkent Nukus Museum of Art Shahrisabz Museum of History and Material Culture State Museum of History of Uzbekistan State Museum of Nature of Uzbekistan Tashkent Museum of Railway Techniques Tashkent Planetarium Tashkent Polytechnical Museum The Alisher Navoi State Museum of Literature Ulugh Beg Observatory Places of worship Ak Mosque Baland Mosque Bibi-Khanym Mosque Bolo Haouz Mosque Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Chor Minor Dzhuma Mosque Kalân Mosque Kalyan minaret Khonakhan Mosque Magok-i-Attari Mosque Magok-i-Kurpa Mosque Mosque of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani Sacred Heart Cathedral St. John the Baptist Church Theaters Navoi Theater Osh State Academic Uzbek Music and Drama Theater named after Babur Others Khanaka of Nadir Divan-begi Monument to Nizami Ganjavi in Tashkent Mustaqillik Maydoni Rabati Malik Siyob Bazaar Square of Martyrs in Uzbekistan Tashkent Tower
Natural	Lakes Aydar Lake Lake Charvak National parks Chatkalskiy State Nature Reserve Zaamin National Park

Coordinates: 39°38′47″N 66°57′18″E / 39.6464°N 66.9550°E / 39.6464; 66.9550