St. Stephen Cathedral, Byzantine Catholic cathedral in Phoenix, United States
St. Stephen Cathedral is a Byzantine Catholic church in Phoenix featuring traditional Eastern Christian architecture with golden domes and intricate religious murals decorating the interior. The building displays the architectural characteristics typical of Ruthenian churches and now serves as the seat of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy.
The church was founded in 1968 as a mission and later took over the property of a former Antiochene Orthodox church to serve Byzantine Catholics in western Arizona. It acquired cathedral status in the 1990s when the regional episcopal administration relocated to Phoenix.
The cathedral preserves Ruthenian Greek Catholic traditions while conducting services in English, connecting modern American worshippers with Eastern European religious practices. The golden domes and intricate religious murals visible throughout the interior show the Eastern Christian aesthetic that visitors encounter today.
Visitors should know that services follow a different rhythm than Western Catholic churches, with liturgies that may run longer than expected. It is helpful to check ahead about visiting times and wear appropriate clothing, as this is an active house of worship with religious protocols.
The cathedral houses a collection of religious artworks and liturgical objects that showcase the diversity of Byzantine and Eastern artistic traditions. These pieces come from different periods and regions of Eastern Europe and offer visitors insight into craftsmanship techniques rarely seen elsewhere.
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