Assumption of Mary Cathedral, Hiroshima

We stand before the Memorial Cathedral for World Peace, officially known as the Assumption of Mary Cathedral. This massive, gray structure is one of the most significant Roman Catholic churches in Asia, but its importance…

The entrance to the cathedral is marked by a set of magnificent bronze doors, a gift from the city of Düsseldorf, Germany. These doors are a profound example of mid-century liturgical art, featuring relief sculptures that depict…

Stepping into the interior of the cathedral, the first thing that strikes you is the quality of light. The nave is vast and high, with walls that seem to glow from the light filtering through dozens of stained-glass windows. …

At the far end of the nave stands the High Altar, the spiritual center of the cathedral. This altar was a gift from Belgium, another nation that suffered deeply during the world wars. …

High in the loft above the entrance sits the cathedral’s pipe organ, a magnificent instrument provided by the city of Cologne, Germany. Cologne, like Hiroshima, was a city that experienced massive destruction during the war, and…

The most visible feature of the cathedral from the exterior is the 45-meter-high belfry, a soaring tower of gray concrete that pierces the Hiroshima skyline. Inside this tower hang four massive bells, presented by the German town…

As we conclude our tour of the Assumption of Mary Cathedral, let us take a moment to reflect on the layers of history and hope that we have encountered. We have moved from the bronze doors of Düsseldorf, through the 'living…