The Hidden Wonder of the U.S. Capital: St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral

When you think of beautiful buildings in Washington D.C., you might think of the National Mall, the Episcopalian National Cathedral, or even the great Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

But after you read this, you might think of a church you previously didn’t even know existed: St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral.

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Here’s a look inside:

Yes, this really does exist in Washington D.C..

Following WWII, Eastern Orthodox Christians in the U.S. decided to build a grand Orthodox cathedral in Washington D.C.. Land was purchased in 1951, the crypt was completed in 1954, and the structure of the main church was completed in 1962.

But that’s when the real work began.

As you can see, the inside of the church is completely filled with stunningly gorgeous icons. A team of iconographers from Moscow finally finished their work in 1994.

Today, St. Nicholas Cathedral is the primatial cathedral of the Orthodox Church in America.

You can explore a 360 degree tour of the inside of the church here.

Here are some more photos of the amazing place (click any image to view it full size):

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