Saint Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles

Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral (in Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία, Hagia Sophia) is a Greek Orthodox church built in 1952, in what was then the Greek section of Central Los Angeles, California. It is located at West 15th Street and South Normandie Avenue in the present-day Harvard Heights neighborhood.

Saint Sophia
Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, looking northeast
Location1324 South Normandie Avenue, Harvard Heights
Los Angeles, California
CountryUnited States
DenominationGreek Orthodox
Websitewww.stsophia.org
History
StatusActive
Architecture
Heritage designationLos Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #120
DesignatedJune 6, 1973
Style Byzantine Revival—Renaissance Revival
Completed1952
Specifications
Capacity750
Administration
ArchdioceseAmerica
MetropolisSan Francisco

History

This Greek Orthodox church is the result of a Hollywood success story. When Charles Skouras and his brothers, Spyros Skouras and George Skouras, were still trying to get ahead in Hollywood, Charles made a vow to God that he would build the most majestic cathedral if God would grant him success in show business. He became head of Fox West Coast, so he built the Saint Sophia in Los Angeles.

In 2005 at the 36th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the liturgy was given in Spanish, English, and Greek, with Orthodox children from a Tijuana, Mexico, orphanage providing music.[1]

South façade of Saint Sophia Cathedral

Architecture

The cathedral has a simplified Byzantine Revival—Renaissance Revival-influenced exterior. The interior was designed with more decorative features.

Saint Sophia Cathedral is a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

Congregation

The cathedral still draws its predominantly Greek congregation of as many as 1,000 from perhaps a 60-mile radius – from throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Los Angeles's Greek community has never been centralized, as in other cities such as New York City and Chicago.

Members of the church congregation have included Hollywood actors such as Telly Savalas, whose funeral was held there.[2] Dr. Tom Apostle and Sharon Lawrence married at the church in 2002.

Notable members

See also

References
  1. Fotopoulos, Maria (June 2003). "Orthodox Church Changes to Meet Needs". Patrides. Archived from the original on September 3, 2004. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  2. Natale, Richard (January 23, 1994). "Savalas, star of 'Kojak,' dies". Variety. Retrieved 23 April 2018.

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