St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Siem Reap, Cambodia

St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Siem Reap, Cambodia

St. John the Apostle, the only remaining Catholic church in Siem Reap, Cambodia

The tiny Kingdom of Cambodia has changed a lot over the past two centuries. After decades of hardships under one of the 20th century's most brutal regimes, today, Cambodia is once again free.

While officially a Buddhist country, Cambodia's small religious minorities enjoy religious freedom. In the past, Cambodia, like neighboring Vietnam, was a colony in French Indochina, and developed a sizable Catholic minority (the vast majority of Cambodians are practicing Buddhists).

After gaining independence from France, Cambodia went through decades of turmoil. The brutal Khmer Rouge seized power in the country, ousting the monarchy and establishment government, executing scholars, teachers, and doctors, and ushering in one of the most terrible regimes in late 20th century history.

Many educated Cambodians fled the country or were killed. The Khmer Rouge destroyed Cambodia's two cathedrals (one in the capital, Phnom Penh, and the other in the colonial town Battamabang).

visiting Siem Reap's Catholic church

Siem Reap, Cambodia has become one of my favorite cities in Asia to visit. It's close to Bangkok (just a $40 and 35-minute plane ride away), cheap ($0.50 beer!), charming, and full of history (don't miss the Angkor Historical Park!). I had been to Siem Reap several times before, but I had never seen St. John the Apostle in my previous visits. This time, I made a detour to see the church on my way to the Angkor National Museum.

the gardens at the church in Siem Reap

The church looks very much like a traditional Cambodian-style wooden house. From the outside, it's nothing fancy, but to me, it represents resilience. It may not be a grand cathedral like the ones that used to stand in Phnom Penh or Battambang, but it's a beautiful building full of life. It's a symbol of recovery.

As I walked past the church, I could hear the choir singing inside. It was beautiful.

a tuk-tuk parked along the river in Siem Reap, Cambodia

How to get to St. John's Church, Siem Reap, Cambodia

The church is located alongside the river in Siem Reap. It is within walking distance of Pub Street, and located just next to the Made in Cambodia Market. From there, it's easy to walk to the Royal Palace and National Museum, or take a short tuk-tuk ride.

សង្កាត់ ស្លរក្រាម, 027 River Rd, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia