Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Archdiocesan Cathedralof the Holy Trinity |
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| The Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity | |
The Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan
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| 40°46′11″N 73°57′22″W / 40.769647°N 73.956118°W | |
| Location | 319 East 74th Street New York City, New York 10021 |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Greek Orthodox Church |
| Membership | 800 families |
| Website | thecathedralnyc.org |
| History | |
| Founded | 1891 |
| Dedication | Eleanor Roosevelt |
| Dedicated | September 14, 1931 |
| Consecrated | October 22, 1933 |
| Relics held | St. Nicholas of Myra |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Kerr Rainsford, John A. Thompson, Gerald A. Holmes |
| Architectural type | Byzantine Moderne |
| Completed | March 4, 1932 |
| Construction cost | $577,000 ($12,400,000 in current dollar terms) |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | Electronic, fitted 2013 |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of America |
| Metropolis | Direct Archdiocesan District |
The Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity is a beautiful Greek Orthodox church in New York City. It's located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. This church is the main cathedral for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America across the country. It's also where Archbishop Elpidophoros of America leads.
This church was started in 1891. It moved to its current spot in 1932. It was the second Greek Orthodox church in all of North and South America. It was also the first Greek Orthodox church in New York City. For a long time, it was the biggest Eastern Orthodox church in the entire Western Hemisphere.
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What Happens at the Cathedral?
The cathedral is home to about 800 families. It often welcomes important guests and visitors.
- It holds regular church services. These services are even shown on television!
- There's a Sunday school for kids.
- They have an afternoon school and the Cathedral School for grades N-8.
- You can join Bible study groups.
- The church also has different groups and activities for people to connect.
A Look Back: The Cathedral's History
The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox church has a long and interesting history.
Early Beginnings in New York
In 1891, the first home for the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox church was in part of another church. It was on West 53rd Street and cost $50 a month to rent. This was a big step, as it was only the second Greek Orthodox church in the Americas. It was also the very first one in New York City.
Moving and Rebuilding
In 1904, the church bought a new building. It was a Gothic-style church on East 72nd Street. Sadly, this church burned down in 1927.
Two years later, land was bought for a new church. This new church was built in a Byzantine style. It cost about $577,000 to build.
Important Milestones
- On September 14, 1931, Eleanor Roosevelt helped lay the first stone for the new cathedral.
- The Holy Trinity church moved into its current building on March 4, 1932.
- On October 22, 1933, Patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinople officially dedicated the cathedral. He called it "The Cathedral of all of Hellenism in America."
- In 1949, the church started the Cathedral School.
- In 1962, it was named the main cathedral for the archdiocese.
Recent Times and Famous Visitors
On September 18, 1999, Archbishop Demetrios became the leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in America at the cathedral.
Many famous people have connections to the church:
- Opera singer Maria Callas was baptized there in 1926.
- In 2001, TV journalist George Stephanopoulos and comedian Alexandra Wentworth were married at the cathedral.
The Cathedral's Design
The Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity has a unique and beautiful design.
Outside the Church
The outside of the church is made of red brick and limestone. It has a Romanesque Revival style. The architects who designed it were Kerr Rainsford, John A. Thompson, and Gerald A. Holmes. They also designed what is now Lehman College.
Inside the Church
The inside of the cathedral is truly stunning:
- It features beautiful Byzantine mosaics.
- The walls, columns, and altar are made of special botticino marble.
- There are colorful stained glass windows imported from Italy.
- The artwork on the dome was created by Georgios Gliatas. He was a student of a famous artist named Fotis Kontoglou.
