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 Byzantine-Latino Quarter[1]
| Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, looking northeast | |
| Location | 1324 S. Normandie Avenue, Byzantine-Latino Quarter Los Angeles, California |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Greek Orthodox |
| Website | www.stsophia.org |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #120 |
| Designated | June 6, 1973 |
| Style | Byzantine Revival—Renaissance Revival |
| Completed | 1952 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 750 |
| Administration | |
| Metropolis | San Francisco |
| Archdiocese | America |
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.[2]
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.[3] Dr. Tom Apostle and Sharon Lawrence married at the church in 2002.
Notable members
- George Chakiris
- Telly Savalas
- Tom Hanks
- Rita Wilson
- Peggy Stevenson — Los Angeles City Council member, 1975–1985.
In popular culture
The church is featured in Visiting... with Huell Howser Episode 511.[4]
The wedding scene in Bram Stoker's Dracula was filmed in the nave of this church. In rapper Ice Cube's 1993 music video "It Was a Good Day", the church can be seen in the background of the basketball scene.
See also
- List of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in South Los Angeles
- Greek Orthodox cathedrals in the United States
References
- Usher, Nikki (August 12, 2004). "Where Spanakopita Rubs Elbows With Chile Relleno". Retrieved 15 March 2022.
The area now has an official name to reflect this cross-cultural mix: the Byzantine-Latino Quarter, a label that pays homage to the two ethnic groups that give it its identity...The churches -- St. Sophia and St. Thomas the Apostle -- form the backbone of the neighborhood..
- Fotopoulos, Maria (June 2003). "Orthodox Church Changes to Meet Needs". Patrides. Archived from the original on September 3, 2004. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
- Natale, Richard (January 23, 1994). "Savalas, star of 'Kojak,' dies". Variety. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- "Saint Sophia's – Visiting (511) – Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University".