Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral (Chicago)

Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Orthodox Church in America Diocese of the Midwest. It is one of only two churches designed by Louis Sullivan, one of the seminal architects of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places[1] and is designated a Chicago Landmark.[2]

Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Rectory
Chicago Landmark
Location1121 N. Leavitt Street
Chicago, Illinois
Coordinates41°54′6.98″N 87°40′54.77″W
Built1903
ArchitectLouis Sullivan
NRHP reference No.76000693[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMarch 16, 1976
Designated CLMarch 21, 1979

History

The church was commissioned by a growing Orthodox community consisting of Rusyns, Russians, Serbs and Greeks of Chicago, Illinois, and stands within the neighborhood known today as Ukrainian Village. The founders of the church were immigrants from Carpathian Rus', Galicia, and the Balkans. It remains one of only two Orthodox churches servicing the Orthodox-Christian community in Ukrainian Village. Construction work, partly financed by a donation of 4,000 roubles or ~$2700 from Tsar St. Nicholas II of Russia, and Louis Sullivan donated part of his fee ~$1250 and the elaborate Healy & Millet manufactured chandelier (value unknown). The church retains many features of Russian provincial architecture, including an octagonal dome and a frontal belltower. It is believed that the emigrants wished the church to be "remindful of the small, intimate, rural buildings they left behind in the Old World".[3] Archival references point to a small wooden church in the Siberian village of Tatarskaya as a particular inspiration for the final design.[4] To this traditional Russian basis of the overall design, Sullivan added decorative elements more characteristic of his own larger corpus of work, influenced by the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movements, as seen, for example, in the decorative design over the western entrance to the church, the window and roof framing, and the bell tower and cupolas.

The church is highlighted in numerous books on church architecture, among them Chicago Churches: A Photographic Essay by Elizabeth Johnson (Uppercase Books Inc, 1999) as well as The Spiritual Traveler's Guide to Chicago and Illinois by Marilyn Chiat (HiddenSpring 2004). The church was consecrated by St. Tikhon of Moscow and was under the spiritual guidance of St. John of Chicago (Kochurov) during its early years.

The church was elevated to a cathedral in 1923, and stands today a member of the Orthodox community in Chicago. It serves as the cathedral church of the Orthodox Church in America with Priest Alexander Koranda.

Services

The Divine Liturgy is celebrated at 9:30 am on Sundays, following singing of the Hours from 9:10 am. The Liturgy is also celebrated at 9:30 am on Feast days. Vigil is held at 5:00 pm on Saturdays.

Tours

Tours are held almost every other Saturday or by special appointment. Information is on the cathedral website. https://holytrinitycathedral.net/tours.html

  • Holy Trinity Cathedral, exterior, Chicago, Illinois
  • Holy Trinity Cathedral, interior, Chicago, Illinois
  • Interior showing the iconostasis
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References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral and Rectory". Chicago Landmarks. City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Landmarks Division. Archived from the original on 2007-12-14. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  3. Marilyn Joyce Segal Chiat. Spiritual Traveler: Chicago and Illinois. ISBN 1-58768-010-6. Page 157.
  4. Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, "Celebrating a Spiritual and Architectural Icon." Chicago (no publication date, but available from the cathedral as of January 2012).
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