Cathedral of the Transfiguration (Markham, Ontario) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cathedral of the Transfiguration
The Cathedral of the Transfiguration in 2012
43°53′39.53″N 79°22′16.17″W / 43.8943139°N 79.3711583°W / 43.8943139; -79.3711583
Location	Cathedraltown, Markham, Ontario, Canada
Denomination	Catholic Church
History
Dedication	Transfiguration of Jesus
Administration
Diocese	Eparchy of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto (1984-2006) Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Saint-Sauveur of Montréal (2016-)

The Cathedral of the Transfiguration is a special Catholic church in Markham, Ontario, Canada. It used to be a main church (called a cathedral) for the Slovak Greek Catholic Church. Now, it serves as a parish church for the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. This beautiful building is dedicated to the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, which is an important event in the Christian faith. The cathedral is the most important building in an area called Cathedraltown, which is just north of Toronto.

The Cathedral's Story

Pope John Paul II blessing the cornerstone of the cathedral in September 1984.

The land where the Cathedral of the Transfiguration stands was once part of a farm. This farm belonged to a man named Stephen Boleslav Roman. He was a very successful businessman and came to Canada from Slovakia in 1937. Mr. Roman gave the land for the cathedral. He wanted to build a place that showed the importance of religious freedom. This was especially meaningful for people from his home country who faced challenges at the time.

Mr. Roman designed the cathedral to look like a church from his childhood village in Slovakia. Building the cathedral started in early 1984. A very special event happened in September 1984. Pope John Paul II visited Canada and blessed the cornerstone and altar stone of the cathedral. This was the first time a Pope had blessed a church in North America.

The Slovak Greek Catholic Church Foundation owns and manages the cathedral. It was built to serve Slovak Catholics living in the Greater Toronto Area. Until 2006, it was the main church for the Slovak Catholic Eparchy of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

Mr. Roman passed away in 1988 before the cathedral was fully finished. His funeral service was held inside the partially built church. About 1,600 people attended to honor him.

In 1990, Václav Havel visited the cathedral. He was the first president of a democratic Czechoslovakia. This visit happened after the fall of the Communist government.

After 2006, the cathedral was closed to the public for about ten years. During this time, a lot of work was done on the inside. In November 2016, the City of Markham gave permission for the church to be used again. The Jesus the King Melkite Greek Catholic Church began using it for worship.

Today, the Society of Saint Pius X also uses the cathedral for their services. They hold a special type of Mass every Sunday afternoon.

Cathedral Architecture and Art

The beautiful interior of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration.

The Cathedral of the Transfiguration has three golden towers. These towers represent the Trinity, which is a core belief in Christianity. The tallest tower is in the middle and is called the Tower of the Transfiguration. It stands about 64 meters (210 feet) tall. This tower holds one of the world's largest sets of three bells. These bells weigh about 14,500 kilograms (32,000 pounds). They were made in France and placed in the cathedral in 1986. The two side towers are each about 45 meters (148 feet) tall.

The cathedral features three gilded towers, representing the Trinity.

Inside the cathedral, you can see amazing art. The dome of the cathedral has a huge mosaic of Christ Pantocrator. This mosaic is about 25 meters (82 feet) wide and covers the entire dome. There is also a mosaic of the Virgin Mary on a curved wall. In 2017, more mosaics were added. These new mosaics are in the circle under the dome and in the areas that connect the dome to its four supporting pillars.

These mosaics show biblical stories and figures. However, they also have some unique Canadian touches. For example, instead of traditional animals representing the four Evangelists, the mosaics show a wolverine, a peregrine falcon, and a cow. These animals are more common in Canada. The mosaics also include images of Canadian saints, like St. Kateri Tekakwitha and St. Brother André of Montreal.

The cathedral also has a restored Casavant Frères concert organ. This is a large musical instrument often found in churches.

More to Explore

• Slovak Catholic Eparchy of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto
• Slovak Greek Catholic Church

See also

In Spanish: Catedral de la Transfiguración de Nuestro Señor (Markham) para niños