Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle

The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington D.C., most commonly known as St. Matthew's Cathedral, is the seat of the Archbishop (currently Theodore Cardinal McCarrick) of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. It is located in downtown Washington at 1725 Rhode Island Avenue NW between Connecticut Avenue and 17th Street. The closest Metrorail station is Farragut North, on the Red Line.

Related Topics:
Washington D.C. - Archbishop - Theodore Cardinal McCarrick - Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington - Rhode Island Avenue - NW - Connecticut Avenue - Metrorail - Farragut North - Red Line

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It is dedicated to the Apostle Matthew, who among other things is patron saint of civil servants, having himself been a tax collector.

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Apostle Matthew - Patron saint - Civil servant

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St. Matthew's was originally established in 1840, the fourth Catholic parish in the District of Columbia. Originally located at 15th and H Streets, construction of the current church began in 1893, with the first Mass being celebrated on June 2, 1895. It was finally dedicated in 1913. In 1939 the church was designated as a Cathedral when the Archdiocese of Washington was established.

Related Topics:
1840 - 1893 - Mass - June 2 - 1895 - 1913 - 1939 - Cathedral

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The structure is Romanesque with Byzantine elements. Designed by architect C. Grant La Farge, it is shaped like a Latin cross and seats about 2000 persons. The interior is richly decorated in marble and semiprecious stones, notably a 35-foot mosaic of Matthew created by Edwin Howland Blashfield. Both structural and decorative features underwent extensive restoration starting in 2000 and ending September 21, 2003, the Feast day of St. Matthew.

Related Topics:
Romanesque - Byzantine - C. Grant La Farge - Latin cross - Mosaic - Edwin Howland Blashfield - 2000 - September 21 - 2003 - Feast day

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The cathedral has seen a number of notable events, including the funeral Mass of President John F. Kennedy on November 25, 1963, and a Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II during his 1979 visit to Washington, DC. The funeral of U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. was held there in 1997. It also held a Lutheran funeral service for the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist on September 7, 2005. The cathedral is officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Related Topics:
Funeral Mass of President John F. Kennedy - November 25 - 1963 - Mass - Pope John Paul II - 1979 - U.S. Supreme Court - William J. Brennan, Jr. - 1997 - Lutheran - Chief Justice - William Rehnquist - September 7 - 2005 - National Register of Historic Places

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