The Catholic Church in Siberia, in particular in Irkutsk, has long and deep roots. It is known that the first Catholics appeared in Irkutsk at the end of the 17th century. At first, these were merchants from Eastern Europe, gypsies. Then there were exiled residents of the Polish-Lithuanian lands. In 1806, Dominican monks arrived in Siberia, three years later, at the special invitation of the Siberian Governor-General Pestel, Jesuit monks arrived with their father, rector Marcelius Kamensky. At the beginning of the 20th century, immigrants joined them, receiving land allotments according to the Stolypin reform. In 1820, the arriving Franciscan Bernardines, together with the inhabitants of the city, built the first Catholic wooden church, which was replaced with a brick one after the fire of 1879. The author of the architectural project was the famous Irkutsk architect Yan Tamulevich. This temple of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary became the center of the religious and cultural life of Siberian Catholics. After the revolution in 1938, the Irkutsk Catholic Church was closed, and its abbot Anthony Zhukovsky was shot.But even in these difficult years, faith was supported by simple believers. In the 1990s, the restoration of church structures began in Russia. Parishes are reborn, believers return to temples. On September 14, 1991, Bishop Joseph Werth, SJ again established the Irkutsk parish of the Assumption of the Virgin, in the building of which there is still a philharmonic society. His first rector was Father Ignatius Pavlius, SDS, who did much to restore Catholic traditions on Siberian soil. On March 23, 1998, His Holiness Father John Paul II appoints Bishop Jerzy Mazur, SVD, for Eastern Siberia. On May 18, 1999, the Apostolic Administration of Eastern Siberia was officially approved with the residence of the bishop in Irkutsk, and curia structures began to form. Chancellor of the Curia became Fr. Joseph Wentslavik, SVD, fellow bishop of God’s Word Society. Many thanks for the help we express about. Alexander Petshik, SAC, layman Marek Machuge and head of the administration press center Natalya Galetkina. On December 8, 1998, the Irkutsk city administration decided to allocate space for the construction of a new cathedral and the bishop’s residence on the left bank of the Angara River. It is significant that a year before the construction, in 1999 Irkutsk was visited by the relics of St. Theresa from the Baby Jesus as part of a pilgrimage to Russia and a worship service was held at the site of future construction work. Through the intercession of St. Theresa, Bishop Jerzy Mazur, priests, monks, lay people and guests from all over Siberia prayed for the blessing of the new Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of God. A particle of her relics is located in the Altar of the Cathedral, parishioners dearly love and pray to this beautiful saint. layman Marek Machuge and head of the administration press center Natalya Galetkina. On December 8, 1998, the Irkutsk city administration decided to allocate space for the construction of a new cathedral and the bishop’s residence on the left bank of the Angara River. It is significant that a year before the construction, in 1999 Irkutsk was visited by the relics of St. Theresa from the Baby Jesus as part of a pilgrimage to Russia and a worship service was held at the site of future construction work. Through the intercession of St. Theresa, Bishop Jerzy Mazur, priests, monks, lay people and guests from all over Siberia prayed for the blessing of the new Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of God. A particle of her relics is located in the Altar of the Cathedral, parishioners dearly love and pray to this beautiful saint. layman Marek Machuge and head of the administration press center Natalya Galetkina. On December 8, 1998, the Irkutsk city administration decided to allocate space for the construction of a new cathedral and the bishop’s residence on the left bank of the Angara River. It is significant that a year before the construction, in 1999 Irkutsk was visited by the relics of St. Theresa from the Baby Jesus as part of a pilgrimage to Russia and a worship service was held at the site of future construction work. Through the intercession of St. Theresa, Bishop Jerzy Mazur, priests, monks, lay people and guests from all over Siberia prayed for the blessing of the new Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of God. A particle of her relics is located in the Altar of the Cathedral, parishioners dearly love and pray to this beautiful saint. Irkutsk, it was decided to allocate space for the construction of a new cathedral and the residence of the bishop – on the left bank of the Angara River. It is significant that a year before the construction, in 1999 Irkutsk was visited by the relics of St. Theresa from the Baby Jesus as part of a pilgrimage to Russia and a worship service was held at the site of future construction work. Through the intercession of St. Theresa, Bishop Jerzy Mazur, priests, monks, lay people and guests from all over Siberia prayed for the blessing of the new Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of God. A particle of her relics is located in the Altar of the Cathedral, parishioners dearly love and pray to this beautiful saint. Irkutsk, it was decided to allocate space for the construction of a new cathedral and the residence of the bishop – on the left bank of the Angara River. It is significant that a year before the construction, in 1999 Irkutsk was visited by the relics of St. Theresa from the Baby Jesus as part of a pilgrimage to Russia and a worship service was held at the site of future construction work. Through the intercession of St. Theresa, Bishop Jerzy Mazur, priests, monks, lay people and guests from all over Siberia prayed for the blessing of the new Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of God. A particle of her relics is located in the Altar of the Cathedral, parishioners dearly love and pray to this beautiful saint. Theresa from the Baby Jesus as part of a pilgrimage to Russia and at the site of future construction work, a service was held. Through the intercession of St. Theresa, Bishop Jerzy Mazur, priests, monks, lay people and guests from all over Siberia prayed for the blessing of the new Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of God. A particle of her relics is located in the Altar of the Cathedral, parishioners dearly love and pray to this beautiful saint. Theresa from the Baby Jesus as part of a pilgrimage to Russia and at the site of future construction work, a service was held. Through the intercession of St. Theresa, Bishop Jerzy Mazur, priests, monks, lay people and guests from all over Siberia prayed for the blessing of the new Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of God. A particle of her relics is located in the Altar of the Cathedral, parishioners dearly love and pray to this beautiful saint.

The celebration of the consecration of the Cathedral took place on September 8, 2000 – on the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin. The temple is dedicated to the Mother of God of Fatima, who appeared to three shepherdesses from the village of Fatima in 1917, asking to pray for the conversion of Russia. And she added, “At the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph!” What Is It – the Blessed Heart of the Virgin? – The one who loves God above all. Let us imitate our Heavenly Mother and love Jesus with the Heart of Mary.

Prior to the establishment of the Apostolic Administration of Eastern Siberia on May 18, 1999, Bishop Jerzy Mazur was the vicar bishop of the Apostolic Administration of the Asian part of Russia. By the decision of the Holy Father John Paul II of February 11, 2002, the diocese of St. Joseph for Eastern Siberia and the Far East with the center in Irkutsk was approved. With the appointment of. Jerzy the bishop of the Elk diocese, His Holiness Father John Paul II appointed Fr. Kirill Klimovich.

Our shepherds:
Bishop Jerzy Mazur (1998 – 2002)	Bishop Kirill Klimovich (2003 -)
“Veni, Sancte Spiritus!” “Come, Holy Spirit!” And renew the face of this earth!	“Fortes in Fide!” “Strength in faith”