St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral’s 125th Anniversary

On Sunday, October 14, St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral in Northeast Minneapolis celebrated its 125^th Anniversary. St. Mary’s was originally established in 1887 as an eastern-rite Catholic community founded by Carpatho-Russian immigrants and was officially received into the Orthodox Church in 1891. When the original building was destroyed by fire in 1904, a new church was built in the Russian Baroque style, based on the Dormition Cathedralin Omsk, Siberia. The architect for the project was Victor Cordela, who also designed the Swan Turnblad Mansion (now the American Swedish Institute) and the Gluek Building in downtown Minneapolis.

St. Mary’s Cathedral, which has undergone significant restoration in the past decade, houses a trove of historical elements and artwork. Some distinguishing features include its soaring dome and the Iconostasis, a carved wall of icons which was crafted in Russia and installed in 1905.

St. Mary’s Cathedral is one of Eastside Minneapolis’ architectural and historical gems, and its enduring relevance and vibrancy speaks to the immigrant heritage that is an integral part of Northeast. For further information about the 125^th Anniversary celebration, go to  http://www.stmarysoca.org/125anniversary/index.html.