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Saint George Cathedral
Eastern Orthodox Church

Location: West Town neighborhood of Chicago,
west of the Loop, between Augusta and Chicago [N-S] and Ashland and Damen [E-W],
at 917 North Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60622.

The St. George parish was incorporated and moved to its current location in 1914. Replacing the original wooden structure, the beautiful temple was completed and consecrated in 1935. It received its designation as a cathedral during the residence of Metropolitan Benjamin and Bishop Theodore of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1943-46. Later, the parish brought itself under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church in America.

Our “new” iconostas was completed, dedicated, and blessed in 1955.  All of the icons on the iconostas are copies of those in St. Vladimir’s Cathedral in Kiev, in 19th-century Russian style.

Official website of Saint George Cathedral..  click here..

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A wonderful personal experience at the church. I was out to explore the Ukrainian Village, especially the churches in the neighborhood.  All the churches I went to see that day – Holy Trinity Cathedral, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Sts. Volodymyr & Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church – were closed. I tried opening the doors, but they were all closed. Then I saw St. George Cathedral. Even this was closed. But to my luck, someone saw me at the doors. He asked if I wanted to visit the church? I said yes. To my surprise, he opened the church doors for me!!! He let me in! I was immediately impressed by the beautiful church interiors. He allowed me to take photos, and stood patiently. He put the lights on for me. I felt so welcomed in the church! This happened way back in 2006. Ten years later, in 2016, I am writing this post.  I still remember that day, and will always remember that day with great fondness. It was a beautiful experience.

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The letters “INRI” are initials for the Latin title that Pontius Pilate had written over the head of Jesus Christ on the cross (John 19:19). Latin was the official language of the Roman Empire. The words were “Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex Ivdaeorvm.” Latin uses “I” instead of the English “J”, and “V” instead of “U” (i.e., Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum). The English translation is “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The Early Church adopted the first letters of each word of this inscription “INRI” as a symbol. Throughout the centuries INRI has appeared in many paintings of the crucifixion. By the way, Pilate’s title for Christ was actually written in three languages – Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.

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RELATED LINKS
Places of Worship: Churches & more.. click here..
Places of Worship: Temples & more.. click here..
Open House Chicago [OHC].. click here..

Photo Gallery / Church Art and Architecture.. click here..

Home: Public Art in Chicago.. click here..

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