Virtual Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Quebec City

The Virtual Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Quebec is a magnificent exhibit featuring one of the jewels of Canadian heritage: the archives of the Archdiocese of Quebec. The Virtual Cathedral also highlights the role played by the Archdiocese in conserving historical documents over the centuries. The Archdiocese is the oldest institution dedicated to conserving ecclesiastical archives north of Mexico. Initially an apostolic vicariate in 1658, it was raised to the rank of diocese in 1674.

The Virtual Cathedral exhibit is a precious legacy for Canadians from the Archdiocese of Quebec allowing for the electronic communication of a wealth of archive items. These items are unique and of historical importance for Canada. They are of exceptional documentary quality not just from a historical perspective but from a legal and geographical perspective as well, teaching us about the language and writing of First Nations such as the Innu and Algonquins. These documents chronicle the meeting of the Amerindian and European civilizations. They also reveal the role of clerics in the economic development of the colony through their contributions to expeditions and diplomatic alliances with the Amerindian nations.
This exhibit will be part of the 400th anniversary celebrations of the founding of Quebec City and will allow Canadians to acquire greater knowledge and understanding of their history.

Treasury

Many churches and cathedrals keep worship objects, the articles owned by bishops, religious clothing, reliquaries, and works of art in a room that sometimes acts as a museum, and which is called the treasury. The Archdiocese of Quebec is no exception. Since 2001, it has kept a treasury that measures approximately 12x12 feet in the Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica Cathedral. Given the small dimensions of this room, only some of the objects of worship and art are kept there. The others are stored at the Réserve muséale nationale du Québec.