About Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception [Ukrainian] · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchial Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the mother church and seat of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, serving as the spiritual center of Ukrainian Greek Catholics in the United States. Located at 830 N. Franklin Street in Philadelphia's historic Northern Liberties / Poplar neighborhood, the present cathedral was built in 1963–1966 in the Byzantine Revival style by architect Julian K. Jastremsky, modeled after Istanbul's Hagia Sophia. It is celebrated for its massive gold-fused Venetian-glass dome, the Pantocrator mosaic, a stone from the tomb of St. Peter embedded in its cornerstone, and a papal visit by Pope John Paul II in 1979.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Very Rev. Fr. Roman Pitula
- Diocese
- Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia
Why belong here
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the spiritual mother church of Ukrainian Greek Catholics in the United States — a Byzantine-rite community that prays in both Ukrainian and English while remaining in full communion with Rome. Visitors encounter an extraordinary 100-foot gold-tiled dome, mosaics of the Pantocrator and the Theotokos, the Dochwat-designed iconostasis, the relics of three Ukrainian Catholic bishops in the crypt, and the relic-stone from St. Peter's tomb embedded in the cornerstone. It offers daily Divine Liturgy, a robust Cathedral Choir, the Mothers in Prayer gathering, the long-standing Cathedral Hall with pyrohy sales, and the Sheptytsky Educational Center's Treasury of Faith Museum — making it a place where Ukrainian heritage, art, and Byzantine liturgy are preserved and lived daily.
Mass times at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception [Ukrainian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM (a priest is available a half-hour before Divine Liturgy)
- Sunday: 8:30 AM and 10:15 AM (a priest is available a half-hour before each Liturgy)
- Before or after any service, or by appointment
History of the Cathedral and Parish
The Immaculate Conception parish was established in 1886 to serve Ukrainian (then called Ruthenian) Catholic immigrants who had settled in Philadelphia's Northern Liberties neighborhood. In 1907 Bishop Soter Stephen Ortynsky — the first Greek Catholic bishop in America — purchased the existing church that would become the first cathedral; it was solemnly consecrated on October 2, 1910, by Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky. Archbishop Ambrose Senyshyn replaced that structure with the present Byzantine Revival cathedral, designed by Julian K. Jastremsky, whose cornerstone was laid October 16, 1966. The old cathedral was demolished in 1968, and the new cathedral was consecrated later in the decade, becoming the largest Ukrainian Catholic church in the world. Pope John Paul II's pastoral visit on October 4, 1979 cemented the cathedral's symbolic role for Ukrainian Catholics worldwide.
- 1886 — Parish of the Immaculate Conception founded in Northern Liberties
- 1907 — Bishop Soter Stephen Ortynsky purchases the original cathedral
- October 2, 1910 — First cathedral consecrated by Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky
- 1963–1966 — Present cathedral designed by Julian K. Jastremsky and built
- October 16, 1966 — Cornerstone laid; stone from tomb of St. Peter placed inside
- 1968 — Old cathedral demolished
- October 4, 1979 — Pope John Paul II visits the cathedral
- 2002 — Treasury of Faith Museum founded by Archbishop Stefan Soroka
- 2006 — Golden dome cleaned and restored
- June 4, 2019 — Archbishop Borys Gudziak enthroned as seventh metropolitan-archbishop
Architecture and Sacred Art
Julian K. Jastremsky designed the cathedral in the Byzantine Revival style, deliberately modeling it on Constantinople's Hagia Sophia. The 172- by 128-foot limestone and architectural-concrete structure rises 106 feet and seats about 1,810 worshippers. Its signature feature is the 100-foot-diameter central dome covered in 22-karat gold fused into hundreds of thousands of Venetian glass tiles, with an interior mosaic of Christ Pantocrator. The iconostasis, designed by Chrystyna Dochwat, separates the sanctuary from the nave and carries the icons of the four Evangelists, the Annunciation, Christ the Teacher, the Theotokos, St. Nicholas, and other Byzantine saints. Mosaics on the sanctuary wall depict the Theotokos, the Last Supper, the Road to Emmaus, and the Visitation of the Holy Trinity; twelve stained-glass windows portray six-winged angels from Isaiah's vision. A wheat motif weaves through the dome-band windows — a tribute to Ukraine.
- Style: Byzantine Revival, modeled on Hagia Sophia
- Architect: Julian K. Jastremsky
- Materials: Limestone and architectural concrete
- Dimensions: 172 ft long × 128 ft wide × 106 ft high
- Central dome: 100 ft in diameter, clad in gold Venetian glass tiles
- Iconostasis: designed by Chrystyna Dochwat
- Capacity: approximately 1,810
The Crypt
A crypt beneath the cathedral sanctuary contains the earthly remains of three Ukrainian Catholic hierarchs: Bishop Soter Stephen Ortynsky, O.S.B.M. (d. March 24, 1916) — the first Greek Catholic bishop in the United States; Metropolitan-Archbishop Constantine Bohachevsky (d. January 6, 1961); and Metropolitan-Archbishop Ambrose Senyshyn, O.S.B.M. (d. September 11, 1976), who oversaw the construction of the present cathedral.
Clergy and Staff
The cathedral is led by Rector Very Rev. Fr. Roman Pitula (appointed August 16, 2016) with the assistance of Deacon Ihor Demydas. The wider Archeparchy is headed by Archbishop-Metropolitan Borys Gudziak (seventh metropolitan-archbishop, enthroned June 4, 2019) and Auxiliary Bishop Andriy Rabiy. The Missionary Sisters of the Mother of God (MSMG) maintain their convent on the cathedral grounds and administer the Treasury of Faith Museum.
- Archbishop-Metropolitan: Most Rev. Borys Gudziak
- Auxiliary Bishop: Most Rev. Andriy Rabiy
- Cathedral Rector: Very Rev. Fr. Roman Pitula
- Deacon: Ihor Demydas
- Missionary Sisters of the Mother of God (MSMG): Convent 215-627-7808
Treasury of Faith Museum and Sheptytsky Educational Center
Founded in 2002 by Archbishop Stefan Soroka in the basement of the cathedral (the former Cathedral School building, now called the Sheptytsky Educational Center), the Treasury of Faith Museum preserves and presents the history of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in America. Eight rooms display icons, vestments, antimensions, mitres, prayer books, tabernacles, photographs of clergy and martyrs, and other liturgical art — much of it rescued from closed parishes across the East Coast. The museum is maintained Tuesday through Friday by the Missionary Sisters of the Mother of God, who also offer tours. The Cathedral also houses a replica of the Shroud of Turin, brought from Rome.
- Founded 2002 by Archbishop Stefan Soroka
- Maintained by the Missionary Sisters of the Mother of God (MSMG)
- Hours: Tuesday–Friday (group tours by appointment weekends)
- Phone: 215-627-3389; email: tofmuseum@ukrcap.org
- Admission: free
Ministries and Community Life
The cathedral sustains both liturgical and parish-community life in the Ukrainian Catholic tradition. The Cathedral Choir sings regularly at the Ukrainian Liturgy and welcomes new members. The Mothers in Prayer group gathers monthly for intentional prayer. The Cathedral Hall (215-829-4350) is well-known for its pyrohy (varenyky) sales, which support the parish and serve as a gathering point for Ukrainian-American community life. The Missionary Sisters of the Mother of God maintain their convent on the cathedral campus and host the museum.
- Cathedral Choir
- Mothers in Prayer (monthly)
- Cathedral Hall / pyrohy sales — 215-829-4350
- St. Mary's Cemetery — 215-962-5830
- Missionary Sisters of the Mother of God (MSMG) convent
Visiting the Cathedral
The Cathedral is open for scheduled Divine Liturgies and for tours of the Treasury of Faith Museum. Highlights for visitors include the golden dome (restored in 2006), the Pantocrator mosaic, the Dochwat iconostasis, the sanctuary mosaics of the Theotokos and Last Supper, the 12 six-winged angel windows, the cornerstone with its stone from St. Peter's tomb, and the crypt with the relics of three Ukrainian Catholic bishops. The cathedral is located in the historic Northern Liberties / Poplar neighborhood — Philadelphia's original 'Little Ukraine' — and remains a sister parish to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church at 24th and Poplar.
- Cathedral address: 830 N. Franklin St., Philadelphia, PA 19123
- Rectory/Mailing: 819 N. 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123-2097
- Cathedral phone: 215-922-2845
- Museum phone: 215-627-3389
- Sister parish: St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church (founded 1943, 24th & Poplar)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Bishop Soter Stephen Ortynsky, O.S.B.M.1907–1916
First Greek Catholic bishop for the faithful in the United States; purchased the original cathedral church in 1907/1908 and served as its first pastor; died March 24, 1916.
- Rev. Msgr. Michael Fedorowich1962–1974 and 1983–1993
Rector during the construction of the present cathedral in the 1960s; also served as vicar general and chancellor of the Archeparchy; elevated to Papal Chamberlain in 1968 and to Papal Chaplain (Right Reverend Monsignor) in 1985; died April 25, 2011.
- Rev. John Ciurpitaaround 1992
Served as assistant pastor of the Cathedral (mentioned at Joseph Szupa's 1992 ordination).
- Rev. Ivan DemkivDecember 15, 2003 – June 30, 2015
Born in Zalozhtsy, Ternopil region, Ukraine; ordained in Ukraine in 1992; came to Philadelphia in October 2003 as Parochial Vicar, then appointed Rector in December 2003.
- Very Rev. Joseph SzupaJuly 1, 2015 – July 10, 2016
Native of Chester, PA; ordained September 20, 1992 at the Cathedral by Archbishop Stephen Sulyk; previously Chancellor of the Archeparchy; died suddenly on July 10, 2016 after celebrating the 11 a.m. Divine Liturgy.
- Very Rev. Fr. Roman PitulaAugust 16, 2016 – present
Native of Stryj, Lviv Region, Ukraine; ordained priest November 8, 1998; came to the Archeparchy of Philadelphia in 2002; appointed Cathedral Rector by Archbishop Soroka on August 16, 2016.
![Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception [Ukrainian] in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — photo 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Ukrainian_Catholic_Cathedral_of_the_Immaculate_Conception%2C_Philadelphia.jpg "Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception [Ukrainian]")