Saint Beatrice's Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Divine Martyr Saint Beatrice, informally known as Saint Beatrice's Cathedral (성 베앋맀 대성당) is the national cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ankae. Located in Ankae's Seochuk District, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Ankae, the highest Catholic Primate of the nation of Metzetta. It is dedicated to Saint Beatrice as the name would suggest, and serves as a notable landmark, tourist attraction and symbol of Christianity in Metzetta. The Government of Metzetta's Ministry of Culture have designated the building as a historic site, marking it as an important cultural asset of the empire. Since its early days the cathedral has hosted its own publishing house catering to Christian interests, primarily translations of the Bible.
History
Work began on the cathedral in 1890 and was completed in 1896. Emperor Daeku approved the plans to construct the cathedral on the condition that it be designed by an Acirian architect, as it was Acirians who first brought Christianity to Metzetta. At the time of its completion it was the largest building in Ankae.
The cathedral offers holy mass for foreigners on Sundays, but all other services are performed in Metzi. The cathedral's busiest day is the 9th of August, otherwise known as Saint Beatrice's Day. The church is rumoured to house a lock of Saint Beatrice's hair, but the archbishop has historically refused to comment on such matters.
Architecture
The building was constructed in the gothic revival style according to plans by Acirian architect Audilio Costanari. The main building is 23m tall while the steeple reaches 45m. The interior is ornately decorated with religious artwork. The crypt of the cathedral lies directly beneath the main altar and contains the remains of nine Metzettan martyrs who attempted to convince the Emperor to establish Christianity as the national faith in place of Chulcheo.