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Cathedral of the Transfiguration (Markham, Ontario)

January 01, 1970

The Cathedral of the Transfiguration is a Catholic former cathedral and current parish of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, first of the Slovak Greek Catholic Church and currently of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. The cathedral, in Markham, Ontario, just north of Toronto, is the centrepiece and namesake of Cathedraltown near Victoria Square, an unincorporated hamlet.

Cathedral of the Transfiguration
The Cathedral of the Transfiguration in 2012
43°53′39.53″N 79°22′16.17″W / 43.8943139°N 79.3711583°W / 43.8943139; -79.3711583
LocationCathedraltown, Markham, Ontario, Canada
DenominationCatholic Church
Sui iuris churchMelkite Greek Catholic Church (formerly Slovak Greek Catholic Church)
History
DedicationTransfiguration of Jesus
Administration
DioceseEparchy of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto (1984-2006)
Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Saint-Sauveur of Montréal (2016-)

History edit

 
Pope John Paul II blessing the cornerstone of the cathedral, September 1984

The cathedral is on land once part of Romandale Farms Inc., founded by the late Stephen B. Roman, a leading breeder and exhibitor of Holstein cows and the founder of Denison Mines Limited, a mining company. Mr. Roman, who arrived in Canada in 1937 from his native Slovakia, donated the land for the cathedral, which "he built as a beacon of religious freedom" for his fellow Slavs then living under Soviet oppression. Mr. Roman modelled the cathedral on the church in Veľký Ruskov (now Nový Ruskov), the Slovak village he was raised in.[1]

Construction of the cathedral began in early 1984, and the cornerstone and altar stone were blessed by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Canada in September 1984, marking the first time that a Roman Pontiff had consecrated a church in North America.[2] The cathedral, which is owned and administered by the Slovak Greek Catholic Church Foundation, was built to serve Slovak Catholics throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and until 2006, it was the seat of the Slovak Catholic Eparchy of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

Mr. Roman died in 1988 and did not see the cathedral completed. His funeral service was held in the partially completed structure, with 1,600 people in attendance.[3]

Václav Havel, the first president of a democratic Czechoslovakia, following the fall of the Communist regime, visited the cathedral in 1990.

The exterior of the cathedral was used in the 1995 movie In the Mouth of Madness, where it portrayed the Black Church located in Hobb's End. It can also be seen on some of the posters promoting the film. It was also featured in the 2013 Canadian independent film "Rearview" written and directed by Robert Gulassarian.

Following a dispute with the Slovak Greek Catholic Church Foundation, the Slovak Catholic Eparchy of Saints Cyril moved its seat to a church in Toronto.[4] From 2006 to 2016, the cathedral was closed to the public while extensive interior work was carried out. Although work still remained to be done on the interior, in November 2016, the City of Markham issued a temporary occupancy permit to allow Jesus the King Melkite Greek Catholic Church to use the cathedral as a place of worship.[5]

Design edit

 
Interior

The cathedral has three gilded towers, representing the Trinity. The centre tower, named the Tower of the Transfiguration, rises 64 m (210 feet). It contains one of the world's largest peals of three bells, weighing 14,500 kg (32,000 pounds). The bells were cast in bronze at the Fonderie Paccard in the French town of Annecy and hung in the cathedral in 1986. Each of the cathedral's side towers is 45 m (148 feet) tall.[6]

 
The building features three gilded towers, which represent the Trinity.

The cathedral contains a 25-metre-wide (82-foot) mosaic of Christ Pantocrator, which occupies the entire dome of the cathedral, and a mosaic of the Virgin Mary, which covers the curved wall of the apse. In 2017, mosaics were installed in the circle under the dome and in the pendentives, which connect the dome to its four supporting pillars. While reflecting biblical themes, the content of the mosaics differs from traditional renderings. In addition to the 13 Apostles, the mosaics in the circle also contain images of St. Mary Magdalene; a French saint, St. Madeline Sophie Barat, founder of Les Religieuses du Sacré-Cœur; and two Canadian saints, St. Kateri Tekakwitha and St. Brother André of Montreal. The mosaics in the pendentives, containing biblical manifestations of the four Evangelists, replace the traditional images of a lioness, eagle and ox with the more Canadian wolverine, peregrine falcon and cow, respectively.

The cathedral also features a restored Casavant Frères concert organ.[7]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ František Dancák: ROMAN, Štefan Boleslav - zoe.sk (Slovak)
  2. ^ "The cathedral that Toronto forgot". The Toronto Star. 26 June 2011.
  3. ^ *"1,600 mourn Roman at cathedral he built" Joseph Hall. Toronto Star. March 27, 1988. pg. A.4
  4. ^ https://www.catholicregister.org/item/9276-slovak-cathedral-loses-its-status October 5, 2006
  5. ^ "Cathedraltown rejoices as church opens its doors after nearly a decade" by Noor Javed, Toronto Star, 2016-12-17.
  6. ^ john bentley mays. "Suburbia with a twist". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  7. ^ http://www.cathedralofthetransfiguration.com 2018-08-07 at the Wayback Machine.

Newspaper reports edit

  • "Thousands attend as new cathedral's giant bells blessed." The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa: Aug 16, 1986. pg. A.23
  • "Church at the centre; A European-style community will take shape around golden-domed Byzantine Slovak cathedral Built by magnate with grand vision" by Pat Brennan. Toronto Star. Toronto: Apr 17, 2004. pg. M.01
  • "Eparchy site in Markham Roman reticent about role in constructing cathedral" Kelley Teahen. The Globe and Mail. Toronto: Oct 26, 1985. pg. A.21
  • "Progress slow on Byzantine shrine Hundreds worship in unfinished cathedral" Caroline Byrne. Toronto Star. Toronto: Jul 3, 1989. pg. A.6

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cathedral of the Transfiguration, Markham.
  • Slovak Cathedral of Transfiguration
  • List of Cathedrals in Canada
  • Photo
  • Great Bells
  • Urban Toronto, Globe and Mail story
  • National Post story[permanent dead link]

January 01, 1970
cathedral, transfiguration, markham, ontario, cathedral, transfiguration, catholic, former, cathedral, current, parish, transfiguration, jesus, christ, first, slovak, greek, catholic, church, currently, melkite, greek, catholic, church, cathedral, markham, ont. The Cathedral of the Transfiguration is a Catholic former cathedral and current parish of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ first of the Slovak Greek Catholic Church and currently of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church The cathedral in Markham Ontario just north of Toronto is the centrepiece and namesake of Cathedraltown near Victoria Square an unincorporated hamlet Cathedral of the TransfigurationThe Cathedral of the Transfiguration in 201243 53 39 53 N 79 22 16 17 W 43 8943139 N 79 3711583 W 43 8943139 79 3711583LocationCathedraltown Markham Ontario CanadaDenominationCatholic ChurchSui iuris churchMelkite Greek Catholic Church formerly Slovak Greek Catholic Church HistoryDedicationTransfiguration of JesusAdministrationDioceseEparchy of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto 1984 2006 Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Saint Sauveur of Montreal 2016 Contents 1 History 2 Design 3 See also 4 References 5 Newspaper reports 6 External linksHistory edit nbsp Pope John Paul II blessing the cornerstone of the cathedral September 1984 The cathedral is on land once part of Romandale Farms Inc founded by the late Stephen B Roman a leading breeder and exhibitor of Holstein cows and the founder of Denison Mines Limited a mining company Mr Roman who arrived in Canada in 1937 from his native Slovakia donated the land for the cathedral which he built as a beacon of religious freedom for his fellow Slavs then living under Soviet oppression Mr Roman modelled the cathedral on the church in Veľky Ruskov now Novy Ruskov the Slovak village he was raised in 1 Construction of the cathedral began in early 1984 and the cornerstone and altar stone were blessed by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Canada in September 1984 marking the first time that a Roman Pontiff had consecrated a church in North America 2 The cathedral which is owned and administered by the Slovak Greek Catholic Church Foundation was built to serve Slovak Catholics throughout the Greater Toronto Area GTA and until 2006 it was the seat of the Slovak Catholic Eparchy of Saints Cyril and Methodius Mr Roman died in 1988 and did not see the cathedral completed His funeral service was held in the partially completed structure with 1 600 people in attendance 3 Vaclav Havel the first president of a democratic Czechoslovakia following the fall of the Communist regime visited the cathedral in 1990 The exterior of the cathedral was used in the 1995 movie In the Mouth of Madness where it portrayed the Black Church located in Hobb s End It can also be seen on some of the posters promoting the film It was also featured in the 2013 Canadian independent film Rearview written and directed by Robert Gulassarian Following a dispute with the Slovak Greek Catholic Church Foundation the Slovak Catholic Eparchy of Saints Cyril moved its seat to a church in Toronto 4 From 2006 to 2016 the cathedral was closed to the public while extensive interior work was carried out Although work still remained to be done on the interior in November 2016 the City of Markham issued a temporary occupancy permit to allow Jesus the King Melkite Greek Catholic Church to use the cathedral as a place of worship 5 Design edit nbsp Interior The cathedral has three gilded towers representing the Trinity The centre tower named the Tower of the Transfiguration rises 64 m 210 feet It contains one of the world s largest peals of three bells weighing 14 500 kg 32 000 pounds The bells were cast in bronze at the Fonderie Paccard in the French town of Annecy and hung in the cathedral in 1986 Each of the cathedral s side towers is 45 m 148 feet tall 6 nbsp The building features three gilded towers which represent the Trinity The cathedral contains a 25 metre wide 82 foot mosaic of Christ Pantocrator which occupies the entire dome of the cathedral and a mosaic of the Virgin Mary which covers the curved wall of the apse In 2017 mosaics were installed in the circle under the dome and in the pendentives which connect the dome to its four supporting pillars While reflecting biblical themes the content of the mosaics differs from traditional renderings In addition to the 13 Apostles the mosaics in the circle also contain images of St Mary Magdalene a French saint St Madeline Sophie Barat founder of Les Religieuses du Sacre Cœur and two Canadian saints St Kateri Tekakwitha and St Brother Andre of Montreal The mosaics in the pendentives containing biblical manifestations of the four Evangelists replace the traditional images of a lioness eagle and ox with the more Canadian wolverine peregrine falcon and cow respectively The cathedral also features a restored Casavant Freres concert organ 7 See also editSlovak Catholic Eparchy of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto Slovak Greek Catholic Church John Carpenter s In the Mouth of MadnessReferences edit Frantisek Dancak ROMAN Stefan Boleslav zoe sk Slovak The cathedral that Toronto forgot The Toronto Star 26 June 2011 1 600 mourn Roman at cathedral he built Joseph Hall Toronto Star March 27 1988 pg A 4 https www catholicregister org item 9276 slovak cathedral loses its status October 5 2006 Cathedraltown rejoices as church opens its doors after nearly a decade by Noor Javed Toronto Star 2016 12 17 john bentley mays Suburbia with a twist The Globe and Mail Retrieved 2011 12 16 http www cathedralofthetransfiguration com Archived 2018 08 07 at the Wayback Machine Newspaper reports edit Thousands attend as new cathedral s giant bells blessed The Ottawa Citizen Ottawa Aug 16 1986 pg A 23 Church at the centre A European style community will take shape around golden domed Byzantine Slovak cathedral Built by magnate with grand vision by Pat Brennan Toronto Star Toronto Apr 17 2004 pg M 01 Eparchy site in Markham Roman reticent about role in constructing cathedral Kelley Teahen The Globe and Mail Toronto Oct 26 1985 pg A 21 Progress slow on Byzantine shrine Hundreds worship in unfinished cathedral Caroline Byrne Toronto Star Toronto Jul 3 1989 pg A 6External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cathedral of the Transfiguration Markham Slovak Cathedral of Transfiguration List of Cathedrals in Canada Photo Great Bells Urban Toronto Globe and Mail story Toronto Seeker short 2009 article with photo National Post story permanent dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cathedral of the Transfiguration Markham Ontario amp oldid 1201020656, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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