Archdiocese of Bangkok
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic
Archdiocese
of Bangkok
, Thailand
(Archidioecesis Bangkokensis, อัครสังฆมณฑลกรุงเทพฯ) dates back to 1662, when the Vicariate Apostolic of Siam of created. It was renamed Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Siam (Siam Orientale) in 1841 and Vicariate Apostolic of Bangkok in 1924. On December 18, 1965, it is was elevated to the rank of a metropolitan archdiocese
.
The archdiocese covers an area of 18,831 km², and as of 2002 it is responsible for 81,646 Catholic Christians, 0.7% of the about 12 million living in the area. It covers the provinces Ayutthaya
, Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom
, Nonthaburi
, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan
, Samut Sakhon
and Suphanburi
. Also the part west of the Bang Pa Kong River
of Chachoengsao
and Amphoe Ban Na
of Nakhon Nayok
belong to the diocese.
5 dioceses are suffragans of the archdiosese:
The administrators of the vicariate were vicar
s, but were bishop of a titular see
.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Archdiocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
(Archidioecesis Bangkokensis, อัครสังฆมณฑลกรุงเทพฯ) dates back to 1662, when the Vicariate Apostolic of Siam of created. It was renamed Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Siam (Siam Orientale) in 1841 and Vicariate Apostolic of Bangkok in 1924. On December 18, 1965, it is was elevated to the rank of a metropolitan archdiocese
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
.
The archdiocese covers an area of 18,831 km², and as of 2002 it is responsible for 81,646 Catholic Christians, 0.7% of the about 12 million living in the area. It covers the provinces Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya Province
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Ang Thong, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom and Suphan Buri....
, Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom
Nakhon Pathom Province
Nakhon Pathom ) is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Samut Sakhon, Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi...
, Nonthaburi
Nonthaburi Province
Nonthaburi is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Bangkok and Nakhon Pathom....
, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan
Samut Prakan Province
Samut Prakan is one of the central provinces of Thailand. It is part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Neighboring provinces are Bangkok, to the north and west, and Chachoengsao to the east....
, Samut Sakhon
Samut Sakhon Province
Samut Sakhon ) is one of the central provinces of Thailand.Neighboring provinces are Samut Songkhram, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom and Bangkok.- Etymology :...
and Suphanburi
Suphanburi Province
Suphan Buri is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Nakhon Pathom and Kanchanaburi.- Etymology :...
. Also the part west of the Bang Pa Kong River
Bang Pa Kong River
The Bang Pakong is a river in east Thailand. The river originates at the confluence of the Nakhon Nayok River and the Prachinburi River at Pak Nam Yothaka in Amphoe Ban Sang, Prachinburi Province. It empties into the Gulf of Thailand in the northeastern tip of the Bay of Bangkok. The watershed of...
of Chachoengsao
Chachoengsao Province
Chachoengsao is a province of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Samut Prakan, Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Nayok. It also has a short coast to the Gulf of Thailand.-History:Chachoengsao or Paet Rio is a province in the Central region...
and Amphoe Ban Na
Amphoe Ban Na
Ban Na is a district in the western part of Nakhon Nayok Province, central Thailand.-History:In the Ayutthaya era, people in a village of Tambon Pa Kha were elephant catchers , catching wild elephants to use as war elephants....
of Nakhon Nayok
Nakhon Nayok Province
Nakhon Nayok is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachinburi, Chachoengsao and Pathum Thani....
belong to the diocese.
5 dioceses are suffragans of the archdiosese:
- ChanthaburiDiocese of ChanthaburiThe Diocese of Chanthaburi is located in eastern central Thailand. It is a suffragan diocese of the archdiocese of Bangkok....
- Chiang MaiDiocese of Chiang MaiThe Diocese of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. It is a suffragan diocese of the archdiocese of Bangkok....
- Nakhon SawanDiocese of Nakhon SawanThe Diocese of Nakhon Sawan is located in central Thailand. It is a suffragan diocese of the archdiocese of Bangkok....
- RatchaburiDiocese of RatchaburiThe Diocese of Ratchaburi is located in western central Thailand. It is a suffragan diocese of the archdiocese of Bangkok....
- Surat ThaniDiocese of Surat ThaniThe Diocese of Surat Thani in southern Thailand was founded in 1969, when it was split off from the Diocese of Ratchaburi by the papal bull Qui Regno Christi. It is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Bangkok...
Bishops
- Francis Xavier Kriengsak KovitvanitKriengsak KovitvanitFrancis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitvanit is Archbishop of Bangkok.Born in Ban Rak, he entered the St Joseph's Minor Seminary in Sampran. From 1970 to 1976 he studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, and was ordained as priest on 11 July 1976...
(since 2009) - Michael Michai KitbunchuMichael Michai KitbunchuMichael Michai Cardinal Kitbunchu is a Thai Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Bangkok from 1973 to 2009, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1983.-Early life and ministry:...
(1973-2009) - Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo (1965-1973)
The administrators of the vicariate were vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
s, but were bishop of a titular see
Titular see
A titular see in various churches is an episcopal see of a former diocese that no longer functions, sometimes called a "dead diocese". The ordinary or hierarch of such a see may be styled a "titular bishop", "titular metropolitan", or "titular archbishop"....
.
- Louis-August-Clément Chorin, M.E.P (1947-1965)
- René-Marie-Joseph Perros, M.E.P (1909-1947)
- Jean-Louis Vey, M.E.P (1875-1909)
- Ferdinand-Aimé-Augustin-Joseph Dupond, M.E.P (1864-1872)
- Jean-Baptiste PallegoixJean-Baptiste PallegoixJean-Baptiste Pallegoix, M.E.P. was vicar apostolic of Eastern Siam.Born in Combertault, France, he was consecrated as a priest of the Société des Missions Etrangères on May 31, 1828. On June 3, 1838 he was assigned as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Siam and titular bishop of Mallus...
, M.E.P (1841-1862) - Jean-Paul-Hilaire-Michel Courvezy, M.E.P (1834-1841)
- Esprit-Marie-Joseph Florens, M.E.P (1811-1834)
- Arnaud-Antoine Garnault, M.E.P (1786-1810)
- Joseph-Louis Coudé, M.E.P (1782-1785)
- Olivier-Simon Le Bon, M.E.P (1768-1780)
- Pierre Brigot, M.E.P (1755-1767)
- Jean de Lolière-Puycontat, M.E.P (1738-1755)
- Jean-Jacques Tessier de Quéralay, M.E.P (1727-1736)
- Louis Champion de Cicé, M.E.P (1700-1727)
- Louis LaneauLouis LaneauLouis Laneau was a French Bishop of the 17th century who was active in the kingdom of Siam . He was a member of the Paris Foreign Missions Society...
, M.E.P (1673-1696)
See also
- Christianity in ThailandChristianity in ThailandChristianity was first introduced to Thailand by European missionaries. Historically it took on a significant role in the modernization of Thailand. It represents 0.7% of the national population, which is predominantly Buddhist...
- Roman Catholicism in Thailand
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses in Thailand
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses (structured view)-Episcopal Conference of Thailand
External links
- http://www.catholic.or.th (Thai)
- catholic-hierarchy.org