Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception [Ukrainian]

History & Significance

Cathedral · Est. Parish founded 1886; present cathedral cornerstone laid October 16, 1966

The Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia's Northern Liberties traces to a parish founded in 1886 by Ruthenian (Ukrainian) immigrants. The first cathedral was acquired in 1907 under Bishop Soter Stephen Ortynsky, the first bishop of Ukrainian Catholics in the U.S. The present cathedral, designed by architect Julian K. Jastremsky, had its cornerstone laid October 16, 1966 with a stone from the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle. It serves as the seat of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia.

Byzantine Revival, inspired by the Hagia Sophia, with a gold-tiled central dome

• •Seat (cathedral) of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia
• •Parish founded 1886 by Ruthenian/Ukrainian immigrants in Northern Liberties
• •Present cathedral cornerstone laid October 16, 1966, with a stone from the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle
• •Designed by architect Julian K. Jastremsky in Byzantine Revival style, inspired by Hagia Sophia
• •Central dome is about 100 feet in diameter, exterior clad in 22-karat gold Venetian glass tiles