St. Spiridon Orthodox Cathedral, Seattle
From the right vantage point, the domes and crosses of St. Spiridon
Cathedral compete with the Space Needle. Photo
Dean Forbes.Location map and aerial view of St. Spiridion. For a larger view,
see our Seattle Map or get our free Google Earth download.
St. Spiridon Cathedral in Seattle is a Russian Orthodox cathedral complete with traditional onion-shaped domes and golden Orthodox crosses.
History
Founded jointly by 19th-century Greek, Russian, and Serb immigrants to Seattle, St. Spiridon Orthodox Church held its first service on September 18, 1895.
About half the congregation of 100 were born in America. The service was led by an itinerant missionary, Father Sebastian Dabovich, who soon moved on.
The Greeks of Seattle formed a separate congregation in 1918 when they obtained use of an Episcopal Church; they built St. Demetrios's Church in 1921.
In 1923, 6,000 Russians fleeing the Bolshevik Revolution passed through Seattle. St. Spiridon was an important institution in helping the refugees to settle.
In 1941, St. Spiridon's built a new church at 400 Yale Avenue N, and it was designated a cathedral. Whereas the first St. Spiridon's followed a modified New England style, the new building resembled the churches of northern Russia.
St. Spiridon's Cathedral is a member of the Orthodox Churches in America.
What to See
St. Spiridon is a medium-sized brick building surmounted by a cluster of blue domes topped with gold crosses. The interior is dark and intimate, with the smell of incense providing instant transport to Russian and Byzantine lands.
St. Spiridon now conducts most of its services in English, but there are regular Slavonic language liturgies as well. An annual fall bazaar at St. Spiridon offers a chance to eavesdrop on Russian tradition, snack on piroshky and browse books in Cyrillic.
Quick Facts
| Name: | St. Spiridon Cathedral |
| Type of site: | Russian Orthodox cathedral |
| Date: | 1941 |
| Address: | 1310 Harrison St., Seattle, WA, USA |
| Neighborhood: | Downtown |
| Coordinates: | 47.622158° N, 122.330162° W |
| Phone: | 206 624 5341 |
| Services: | 6:30pm Sat; 9:30am Sun |
Article Sources
- St. Spiridon Orthodox Cathedral - official website (quite attractive and comprehensive)
- HistoryLink.org
More Information
- Reviews of St. Spiridon Cathedral - TripAdvisor traveler reviews
- Orthodox Church in America - official website
- Eastern Orthodoxy - ReligionFacts
Travel Resources
- Seattle Maps - our detailed interactive map plus links to more online maps
- Seattle Guided Tours - sightseeing tours and excursions
- Seattle Hotels - book online for the lowest prices
- Seattle Hostels - search and book budget accommodations
- Seattle Hotel Reviews - unbiased reviews from fellow travelers
- Seattle Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Seattle tourism
