St. Nicholas Cathedral

St. Nicholas Cathedral is a Byzantine Revival church in Chicago's Ukrainian Village with thirteen domes rising 112 feet (34 meters) high, representing Christ and the twelve apostles. The central dome dominates the overall structure and shapes the building's appearance from the outside.

The cathedral originated in 1905 from a small group of Ukrainian workers and was completed in 1915 at the corner of Oakley Boulevard and Rice Street. Construction was an important milestone for Chicago's growing Ukrainian community.

The interior displays extensive mosaics and frescoes with religious scenes set against blue and gold backgrounds, following Eastern Christian artistic traditions. This decoration reflects the spiritual values of the Ukrainian community that built the structure.

The building is located in the Ukrainian neighborhood and is accessible during service times. Visitors should note that services are primarily conducted in Ukrainian, though other languages are also available.

A nine-tier chandelier from Greece with 480 lights hangs beneath the main dome and encircles images of the twelve apostles. This impressive lighting fixture is one of the building's most distinctive interior features.

Location: Chicago

Location: Ukrainian Village

Inception: 1913

Architects: Worthmann & Steinbach

Architectural style: Byzantine Revival architecture

Website: http://stnicholaschicago.org

GPS coordinates: 41.89700,-87.68387

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:02