View source for Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Pittsburgh)

{{for|Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tarpon Springs, Florida|St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (Tarpon Springs, Florida)}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral
| designation1 = PHLF
| image = StNicholasGreekOrthodoxCathedralPittsburgh.jpg
| caption =
| location = 419 South Dithridge Street ([[Oakland (Pittsburgh)|Oakland]]), [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[United States|USA]]
| coordinates              = {{coord|40|26|40.08|N|79|56|59.91|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = Pennsylvania
| map_caption  = Location of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
| area =
| built = 1904
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| architect = [[Thomas Hannah]]
| governing_body =
| designation1_date =1982<ref name="PHLF">{{cite book | url= http://www.phlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/Historic-Plaques-2010b.pdf| title=Historic Landmark Plaques 1968-2009| publisher=Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation| location=Pittsburgh, PA| year=2010| accessdate=2012-04-02}}</ref>
}}
'''Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral''' located at 419 South Dithridge Street in the [[Oakland (Pittsburgh)|Oakland]] neighborhood of [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]], was designed by architect [[Thomas Hannah]] and built in 1904.  The First Congregational Church built the structure and used it until 1921,<ref name="FranklinToker">{{cite book| title=Pittsburgh: A New Portrait| first=Franklin| last=Toker| page=366| year=2009| publisher=[[University of Pittsburgh Press]]| isbn=978-0-8229-4371-6 }}</ref> but it has been a [[Greek Orthodox Church]] since 1923.<ref name="WalterCKidney">{{cite book| title=Landmark Architecture: Pittsburgh and Allegheny County| last=Kidney| first=Walter| page=233| year=1985| publisher=[[Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation]]| isbn=0-916670-09-0 }}</ref>  Currently, it is part of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]], and seat of the [[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh]].  This [[Neoclassical architecture|Classical Revival]] style church building was added to the [[List of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks]] in 1982.<ref name="PHLF"/>
Architecturally, the cathedral is described by [[Walter C. Kidney]] in his book ''Landmark Architecture: Pittsburgh and Allegheny County'' (1985) as:
<blockquote>A [[Greece|Grecian]] [[Ionic order|Ionic]] [[portico]], executed in sandstone, is the grand and appropriate introduction to a church that has belonged to the [[Greek Orthodox Church]] since 1923.  The exterior, with its big round-arched windows, is not otherwise specifically symbolic, but the interior is rich with paintings and [[mosaic]]s.  Notable inside are the painting in the dome of [[Christ Pantocrator|Christ the Pantocrator]] (Ruler of All), with its background of gold leaf, and the [[iconostasis]] of metal and mosaic, with peacocks finely depicted on the [[Royal doors|Royal Doors]].  Further art is to be found within the sanctuary, including a painting of the [[Madonna (art)|Mother and Child]] and a [[fresco]] of the [[Last Supper]]."<ref name=WalterCKidney/></blockquote>
[[Franklin Toker]] describes the structure in his book ''Pittsburgh: A New Portrait'' (2009) as follows: "Originally the First Congregational Church, until 1921, this is an unusually vigorous design in yellow industrial brick preceded by a dramatic [[Ionic order|Ionic]] [[portico]].  The interior of St. Nicholas should not be missed as an architectural paradigm of America itself: a cool [[Protestantism|Protestant]] interior heated up by a blazing [[iconostasis]]."<ref name=FranklinToker/>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.stnickspgh.org/ St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral] Official website
{{Pittsburgh}}
[[Category:Churches in Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:Greek Orthodox cathedrals in the United States]]
[[Category:Eastern Orthodoxy in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Greek-American culture in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Churches completed in 1904]]
[[Category:Neoclassical architecture in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Cathedrals in Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:Neoclassical church buildings in the United States]]