Ephemera

Priests and The Religious of Smyrna / Izmir

A selection of photos, mostly from the archives of the late Bülent Moralı (1964-2008 - former head of Alsancak beautification association and author of ‘Punta’dan Alsancak’a: Alsancak Tarihine Kısa Bir Bakış’, 2005), who over many years scanned photos from the Izmir Catholic clergy he befriended. The order is chronological as much as possible - we welcome caption informations, corrections and possible additions from readers.

Roman Catholic Archbishop of Smyrna Vincenzo Spaccapietra who was took his post in 9 April 1862. He dies on 25 November 1878.

Mons Andrea Policarpo Timoni (14 March 1833, Smyrna – 1st August 1904, Smyrna)
Timoni family covers a very wide history in the Levant, dragomans, doctors, etc. Mons. Timoni contributed to the discovery of Mary’s House at Ephesus. We find them in Chios since 1521, and in Constantinople since 1626. Vincenzo Timoni was the doctor of Sultan Valide in 1626 and the favorite doctor of Sultan Murat IV in 1639. - further information on this family:

Mons. Domenico Raffaele Francesco Marengo (20 November 1842, Istanbul - 12 June 1909, Smyrna) - origin from Syra. This Dominican order friar becomes the Archbishop of Izmir on 25 July 1904 and stays in this post till he dies in 1909. Below a photo of him in a dedication ceremony on name-day celebration of St Expedite on 19 April 1905 at Bayraklı on the very site where the construction of the future St. Anthony Church had already started, of which St. Expedite was the second patron and would have its own dedicated altar.

The Capuchin order friar Giannantonio Zucchetti (1843-1931) from Milan, who was missionary in Mardin and south-east Turkey 1879 - 1909 and archbishop in Izmir 1909 - 1920. He appears to be the middle person sitting in this group photo below

The next Catholic arch-bishop in Izmir in this line is Giovanni Battista Fedrico Vallega, in the centre, born 12 April 1876 Genoa, became Izmir Archbishop 26 January 1921, retires 1 March 1929, dies 4 December 1944.

Archbishop Edoardo Tonna, born Izmir 15 November 1891, became the Archbishop of Izmir 9 February 1930, retired 3 December 1937, died 7 November 1963 as the Emeritus Bishop of Izmir. Mgr Tonna was British of Maltese descent, and great uncle of our childhood friend Alfred Tonna (RIP?). Mgr Tonna endured heavy negative pressures from Fascist Italian Smyrniotes during WW2 especially due to his British citizenship.

From the top, left to right: Padre Vincenzo Capudano (?), Mgr Tonna, Frere Anselme in the jabot collar, 1937.

Postcard image showing Fr. Anselme with glasses in the centre, noted as the head of the St Joseph French school of Smyrna, dated 1933.

The ordination of Father Emmanuel Descuffi in front of an unrecognised church, posibly in Istanbul. On the right carry vestments of Byzantine rite, the Arch-bishop of the Greek Catholic Church, Denis Leonid Varouhas, on his left the newly appointed Arch-bishop Emanuel Descuffi. Next to him the future Pope John XXIII, the Roman Catholic Arch-bishop Giuseppe Roncalli. On his left dressed in Armenian rite, the Armenian Catholic Arch-bishop Paul Kiredjian. Vatican records show this consecration took place on 20th February 1938 and the assembled persons are listed which confirms that this photo is from that post ordination ceremony.

Unidentified 1. (Monti Sett. 902)

Unidentified 2.

Postcard image of Cardinal Dubois, Archbishop of Paris, visiting Smyrna in 1920. He headed a French government religious mission to Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Smyrna, Athens, Constantinople and the Balkan countries from December 14, 1919 to March 24, 1920, to assure those areas of France’s religious impartiality.

Unidentified 3 (1921).

Postcard view of some of the above priests from a similar period.

Unidentified 4.

My father Peter Pol. Galdies top row, second from right of photo of the Dominican choir. Fr Vincenzo 2nd row left, and Fr Davide (?) black beard in centre.

From left of photo: Frs Salvatore, Vincenzo, Giulio, Sebastiano.

Archbishop Descuffi, Italian Sisters of Ivrea and what look like pilgrims to Meryem Ana from Italy. (M. Ana 15-8-960).

Unidentified 8 (Fr. A. Giordano).

Fr Vincenzo in his late years. (P. Vinc. 1962).

Left to right: Brother (Fra) Marco, then unidentified, Padri: Sebastiano, Vincenzo, and Davide.

I seem to recognize at right of photo: French Jesuit Pere Euzet and to his right, Cardinal Roncalli: Vatican Nunzio to Ankara flanked by three other archbishops, 2 Jesuits, and 1 Capuchin priest.

Unidentified 12.

From top left: the Freres: Theodore, Prelidien, x, Olivier, Ambroise, Gilbert, x, Anselme, Felix, Marius, then lower row: Père St.Germain with his famous dark spectacles of yellow glass, Priest Michele from Buca, Padre Vincenzo, Pere Euzet, Fr Directeur Pierre, Mgr Descuffi, x, monocled French vice-consul M. Crépin, Pere Claire, Padre Davide, and x.

Unidentified 14.

Unidentified 15.

Unidentified 16.

Top in black is Brother Fra Marco and Padre Davide. Bottom from left: Padres Sebastian, Pere Pastie from Istanbul?, Padre Vincenzo.

Unidentified 18 (Legio Mare Buca).

Unidentified 19.

Unidentified 20.

From left to right: P. Sebastiano Bossina, Mons. Giovanni Bocella, Fra Benedetto Zorcolo, P. Giorgio Marcato, Feast of S. Domenicani, garden of the S. Rosario church, 1968 (M. Bocc. 4-8-68).

Unidentified 22 (Matr. Paul Cosentini).

Left to right: Padre Giulio, X, Frere Alfred, Padre Vincenzo, in white T shirt: new Dominican Brother: x.

Unidentified 24.

Mgr Bocalla consacrating the Holy Oils with Fr Sebastiano co-officiating. (Bocella).

Unidentified 26 (Bocella 27-10-68).

From left to right: Fr. Olivier, Fr. Alfred, Fr. Marius, P. Sebastiano Bossina, Fr. Jean, Fr. Jean Marie, P. Giulio Battola, Fr. Pascal, P. Elie Thierry, Fr. Benedetto Zorcolo, 1969. (Epifania 69).

From left to right: P. Giulio Battola, P. Andrea Marinaro, wife of Italian Consul of Izmir, P. Sebastiano Bossina, Italian Consul of Izmir Paolo Pucci di Benisichi, Fra Benedetto Zorcolo, in the garden of the S. Rosario church, 1972. (Cs. Pucci, 19-10-72).

Unidentified 29.

From left to right: P. Giulio Battola, P. Andrea Marinaro (born Izmir 1918, baptismal name Spridione a Levantine Dominican priest), Fra Paolo Ronco, P. Stefano Negro, P. Sebastiano Bossina - all dominican in the garden of the S. Rosario church, 1976. (Lac. 16-2-76).

Unidentified 31.

Unidentified 32 (5-02-978).

June 29, 1983 Celebration and meeting with the Dominican Master General on a canonical visit to the Parish of S. Rosario. From left to right: P. Giulio Battola, P. Dominique Louis, assistant to the P. General, P. Michele Salardi of OFMCap (Order of Friars Minor Capuchin), behind him P. Michele, P. Francesco Muraca, a Franciscan of Florence, the Master General P. Vincent des Coursnongles, P. Sebastiano Bossina, P. Tanguy of OFMCap, P. Luigi Fontana, P. Lorenxo Piretto, P. Paolo Ronco.