Saint Sophia (Washington)
Encyclopedia
Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral was founded in 1904 to serve the Greek Orthodox residents of the District of Columbia. After meeting in temporary quarters for several years, the congregation constructed its own church near 8th and L Streets NW which was dedicated in 1924. This site is currently occupied by the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Construction on the current edifice at 2815 36th Street NW, near Massachusetts Avenue and a short distance from the Washington National Cathedral
, began in 1951. The congregation began worshipping there in 1955 shortly after major construction was completed. The building is in the Byzantine
style with a central dome that reaches 80 ft (24.4 m) in height.
The church is not named for Saint Sophia the martyr, but rather the Holy Wisdom of God in the tradition of Hagia Sophia
of Constantinople
.
In 1962, the church was elevated to a cathedral under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of America
in New York
, New York
and serves as his cathedral in Washington.
Although the building has been in use for over fifty years, it has not been consecrated as the interior decoration is incomplete. Work began in 1965 and continues to the present.
In 2003, construction began on an education center to the east of the sanctuary. It opened September 16, 2004 and contains classrooms, a library and ballroom to house gatherings.
Construction on the current edifice at 2815 36th Street NW, near Massachusetts Avenue and a short distance from the Washington National Cathedral
Washington National Cathedral
The Washington National Cathedral, officially named the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is a cathedral of the Episcopal Church located in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. Of neogothic design, it is the sixth-largest cathedral in the world, the second-largest in...
, began in 1951. The congregation began worshipping there in 1955 shortly after major construction was completed. The building is in the Byzantine
Byzantine architecture
Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire. The empire gradually emerged as a distinct artistic and cultural entity from what is today referred to as the Roman Empire after AD 330, when the Roman Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire east from Rome to...
style with a central dome that reaches 80 ft (24.4 m) in height.
The church is not named for Saint Sophia the martyr, but rather the Holy Wisdom of God in the tradition of Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey...
of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
.
In 1962, the church was elevated to a cathedral under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of America
Archbishop of America
The Archdiocese of America, better known as the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, is a jurisdiction of the Eastern Orthodox Church under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. It was formally constituted in 1922 and has had seven incumbents...
in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and serves as his cathedral in Washington.
Although the building has been in use for over fifty years, it has not been consecrated as the interior decoration is incomplete. Work began in 1965 and continues to the present.
In 2003, construction began on an education center to the east of the sanctuary. It opened September 16, 2004 and contains classrooms, a library and ballroom to house gatherings.