Historic Photographs

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Item Title


Location
Lincoln Street, Sitka, AK

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Created/Published
Documentation compiled after 1933.

Notes
Survey number HABS AK-1
Building/structure dates: 1844 initial construction
National Register Number: 66000165
Significance: The Cathedral was built in the period 1844-1848. It was the spiritual center for the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska from the date of completion until 1872 and from 1905 to the present time. In the interim period, the center for the Orthodox faith was moved to San Francisco. In 1905 the Episcopal See moved to New York and the St. Michael's Mission was raised to the rank of archdiocese. It is a splendid and typical example of Eastern Orthodox Church architecture in Alaska. / The seat of the Russian Orthodox church in Alaska since the previous building was constructed here in the 1840s, St. Michael's Cathedral has an architectural presence that reflects its spiritual importance. This building is a reconstruction based on HABS drawings of the 1840s log church that burned in 1966. The reconstruction is a faithful one, maintaining the cruciform plan, domed silhouette, and modest interior brightened by a dazzling array of icons and golden treasures.

Subjects
Mission Churches
Orthodox Churches


Related Names
Episcopal See
Eastern Orthodox Church


Collection
Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress)

Contents
Photograph caption(s): 
1. LOOKING WEST
2. WEST FRONT
3. WEST FRONT AND SOUTH SIDE OF BELLTOWER
4. SOUTH SIDE OF BELLTOWER, LOOKING NORTHWEST
5. SOUTH SIDE, LOOKING NORTHEAST
6. SOUTH SIDE OF TRANSEPT
7. EAST SIDE
8. NORTHEAST SIDE OF DOME AND CUPOLA
9. NORTH SIDE OF TRANSEPT, LOOKING SOUTHWEST
10. NORTH SIDE, LOOKING SOUTHEAST
11. INTERIOR, NAVE, LOOKING EAST IN DOME TOWARD ICONOSTAS
12. INTERIOR, NAVE, LOOKING NORTHEAST TOWARD NORTH CHAPEL
13. INTERIOR, NAVE, ICONOSTAS, LOOKING NORTHEAST
INTERIOR, NAVE, ICONOSTAS, LOOKING SOUTHEAST
15. INTERIOR, NAVE, ICONOSTAS WITH DOORS OPEN
16. INTERIOR, NAVE, ICONOSTAS, DETAIL OF ROYAL DOORS
17. INTERIOR, NORTH CHAPEL, LOOKING NORTHEAST
18. INTERIOR, SOUTH CHAPEL, LOOKING EAST, ICONOSTAS DOORS OPEN
19. INTERIOR, NAVE, LOOKING WEST
20. INTERIOR, NAVE, DOME
21. INTERIOR, NAVE, DOME, CLOSER
22. INTERIOR, SANCTUARY, LOOKING SOUTHEAST
INTERIOR, SANCTUARY, LOOKING NORTHWEST
24. INTERIOR, NORTH SANCTUARY, LOOKING EAST
WEST FRONT
NORTH SIDE, LOOKING SOUTHEAST
INTERIOR, NAVE, ICONOSTAS, LOOKING NORTHEAST
INTERIOR DETAIL, ICON OF MADONNA AND CHILD


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