Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral
Celebrating a Spiritual and Architectural Icon
Holy Trinity had its beginning when a small community was established in 1892 as St. Vladimir’s. The first services were held in a house on North Noble Street and later in a rented home on Armitage (then Centre) near Racine. The community then consisted of a small group of Orthodox immigrants from Carpatho-Russia and Galicia.
In its early years of existence, the cathedral parish served as a catalyst for the establishment of several other Orthodox parishes in the Midwest. It has served as a means of uniting Orthodox immigrants in the Chicago area, providing the guidance and leadership for several of the Midwest’s Orthodox parishes. It is the See cathedral of the diocese of the Midwest of the Orthodox Church in America.
By the time Louis Henry Sullivan was asked to design the cathedral and parish structures, he had earned a reputation for being one of America’s most renowned architects. In designing this church, Sullivan undoubtedly studied the designs of numerous contemporary Russian churches, however, archival references show that a small wooden church in the village of Tatarskaya in Siberia served as inspiration for his final design.
The cornerstone for the new church was laid on March 31, 1902, and the new structure was consecrated by Bishop Tikhon of the North American mission of the Russian Orthodox Church on the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent, March 29, 1903. (Bishop Tikhon upon his return to Russia was elected as patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Russia and later died as a confessor to Christ.) Holy Trinity was designated a cathedral in 1922. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and designated an official City of Chicago Landmark in 1979.
Today, Holy Trinity Cathedral continues to be dedicated to serving the people of God in the spirit of Christian love and witness. Holy Trinity does not confine its services to those of Slavic descent. A growing number of converts have been received into Orthodoxy at our cathedral.