St. Nicholas Cathedral (Chicago) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Nicholas Cathedral |
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 Location in Central Chicago
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| 41°53′49.2″N 87°41′1.94″W / 41.897000°N 87.6838722°W | |
| Location | 835 N. Oakley Blvd. Chicago, Illinois |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 1906 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Worthmann & Steinbach |
| Style | Byzantine Revival |
| Completed | 1915 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,200 |
| Length | 155 feet (47 m) |
| Width | 55 feet (17 m) |
| Number of domes | 13 |
| Dome height (outer) | 112 feet (34 m) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Eparchy of St. Nicholas of Chicago |
St. Nicholas Cathedral is a beautiful Ukrainian Greek Catholic cathedral in the Ukrainian Village area of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is the main church for the Eparchy of Saint Nicholas of Chicago. This means it's where the bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic community in Chicago has his special chair, called a cathedra.
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History of St. Nicholas Cathedral
In the late 1890s, many people from western and Carpathian Ukraine came to live in Chicago. A small group of Ukrainian workers started planning for St. Nicholas Parish in 1905. The parish officially began on January 28, 1906. By then, they had saved enough money to buy their first church building. It was located at Bishop and Superior streets.
The land where the current church stands, at Oakley Boulevard and Rice Street, was bought in 1913. The church building we see today was finished in 1915. Later, in 1925, land was bought for a cemetery on Higgins Road.
The parish school was built in 1936. After World War II, more Ukrainian immigrants moved to the neighborhood. The church community grew, so the school was made bigger in 1954. On July 14, 1961, St. Nicholas became a cathedral. This means it became the main church for the Ukrainian Catholic community in Chicago.
From 1974 to 1977, the inside of the cathedral was updated. An artist named Boris Makarenko added many new icons and paintings. Today, church services, called the Divine Liturgy, are held in both Ukrainian and English.
Architecture and Design
The church was designed by a Chicago architecture company called Worthmann & Steinbach. Its design was inspired by Saint Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine. You can even see a picture of Saint Sophia's Cathedral in a painting above the main altar inside.
Outside the Church
The outside of the church has thirteen domes. These domes represent Jesus Christ and his Twelve Apostles. Above the main entrance, there is a beautiful mosaic of Our Lady of Pochaiv. Above that, you'll find an icon of the church's patron saint, St. Nicholas.
Inside the Church
The inside of the cathedral is covered with many icons. These are special religious images. Some are mosaics, which are pictures made from small pieces of colored glass or stone. Others are frescos, which are paintings done on wet plaster. These icons are similar to those found in Saint Sophia in Kyiv. They show scenes from the life of Jesus, his Mother Mary, and many saints.
One special icon was not changed during the 1974-1977 renovation. It shows Christ with his apostles and his Mother at the back of the sanctuary. This icon dates all the way back to 1928.
A very large chandelier hangs from the main dome. It was made in Greece and is gold-colored. It has nine levels and is lit by 480 lights! Images of the 12 apostles are around its outside. People believe it might be the biggest chandelier of its kind in the United States. The beautiful stained glass windows in the church were made by the Munich Studio of Chicago.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Nicolás (Chicago) para niños
