Support Asian Catholic Dioceses Directory
Support Asian Catholic Dioceses Directory
www.ucanews.com

Archdiocese of Hangzhou

Report An Error
Archdiocese of Hangzhou
  • Facebook Share
  • Twitter Share

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hangzhou (Hangchow) belongs to the city of Hangzhou. Hangzhou is a sub-provincial city, whose history dates back to 200 BC. It has 10 districts, one county-level city, and two counties, and is one of the oldest cities in China. The current bishop of Hangzhou, Matthew Cao Xiangde, was appointed by the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA) but he has not been approved by the Holy See. The Archdiocese of Hangzhou has not had a bishop recognized by the Holy See since 1956.

History

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hangzhou was first established as the Apostolic Vicariate of Western Chekiang on May 10, 1910, from the Apostolic Vicariate of Chekiang. It was later renamed on December 3, 1924, as the Apostolic Vicariate of Hangzhou. On April 11, 1946, the Apostolic Vicariate was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Hangzhou.

Geography

Located towards the northwest of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou city situates at the southern end of the Grand Canal of China. The administrative area of Hangzhou covers the mountainous parts of the Anhui province towards the west and the coastal plain near Hangzhou Bay towards the east. The eastern and northern parts of the West Lake form the city centre.

Religion

Li Zhizao and Yáng Tíngyún, two of the Three Great Pillars of Chinese Catholicism, were from the city of Hangzhou. The early 21st-century history records Christian persecution in the area.

Help us improve the Asian Catholic Dioceses Directory

Asian Saints

Asian Pilgrimages

Support Asian Catholic Dioceses Directory
Support Asian Catholic Dioceses Directory
UCA News
The Asian Catholic Dioceses Directory is the largest information database on the Church in Asia, brought to you by UCA News.
CONTACT US
Union des Nouvelles Catholiques Asiatiques (UCA News, UCAN)
31 Avenue de Ségur,
75007 Paris.
[email protected]