Christ Church Cathedral in New Orleans
Founded in 1803 by the Protestant inhabitants of New Orleans, Christ Church Cathedral was the first non-Roman Catholic church founded in the entire Louisiana Purchase territory.
By the late 19th century, New Orleans had grown tremendously. The cornerstone for the present Christ Church was laid on June 10, 1886, and it became a cathedral in 1891.
One of the Garden District’s most popular tourist attractions, Christ Church Cathedral is not just a museum. It is a vital, energetic Episcopal parish, and one of the oldest philanthropic organizations in the region.
The cathedral became the first Episcopal church to commission a jazz composition, by jazz legend Irvin Mayfield, that commemorated Hurricane Katrina. Mayfield’s composition, “All the Saints,” was premiered on Nov. 17, 2005, at the cathedral in conjunction with the bicentennial of Episcopal ministry in New Orleans.
Marvel of modern architecture
Crystal Cathedral, in Garden Grove, Calif., which was dedicated in 1980, is a congregation of the Reformed Church in America, a Protestant denomination founded in colonial times by settlers from the Netherlands, formerly known as the Dutch Reformed Church.
A marvel of modern architecture, Crystal Cathedral has more than 10,000 windows of tempered silver colored glass held in place by a lace-like frame of white steel trusses. Two 90-foot tall doors open electronically behind the pulpit to allow the morning sunlight and warm breezes to enhance the worship services.
The sanctuary seats 2,890 persons, and over 1,000 singers and instrumentalists can perform in the 185-foot chancel area. The cathedral’s pipe organ is world renowned for its quality, and is among the five largest in the world.
The chancel area is constructed of marble quarried in Spain, and cut and polished in Italy. The altar table and pulpit are made of granite, and the 17-foot-tall cross is antiqued with 18- karat gold leaf.
St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine
This institution of the Greek Ort hodox Archdiocese of America is dedicated to the first colony of Greek people who came to America in 1768. The Shrine, in St. Augustine, Fla., consists of exhibits depicting the life of early Greeks in America, the d e velopment of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, and the St. Photios Chapel.
Filled with exquisite Byzantine style frescoes of many apostles and saints of the Christian church, the magnificent St. Photios Chapel is unique in the Western Hemisphere. Adding vibrant luster to these extraordinary examples of the centuries-old Byzantine art is an abundant use of 22-karat gold leaf on the highlights of the frescoes.
These cathedrals and basilicas are “must sees,” and well worth a scheduled visit on your travel itinerary. Not only are they interesting to see in person, they also provide insight into the history and culture of the area.
Additional cathedrals and basilicas to visit:
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City, NY
• Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul, Philadelphia, Pa.
• Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
• Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston, Mass.
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