St. Matthew's Cathedral, Washington, D.C., United States

The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington D.C., most commonly known as St. Matthew's Cathedral, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.

St. Matthew's is dedicated to the Apostle Matthew, who among other things is patron saint of civil servants, having himself been a tax collector. It was established in 1840. Originally located at 15th and H Streets, construction of the current church began in 1893, with the first Mass being celebrated June 2, 1895. Construction continued until 1913 when the church was dedicated. In 1939, it became the cathedral for the newly established Archdiocese of Washington.

The structure is constructed of red brick with sandstone and terra cotta trim in the Romanesque Revival style with Byzantine elements. Designed by architect C. Grant La Farge, it is in the shape of a Latin cross measuring 47 m × 41 m and seats about 1,200 persons. The interior is richly decorated in marble and semiprecious stones, notably a 11 m mosaic of Matthew behind the main altar by Edwin Blashfield. The cathedral is capped by an octagonal dome that extends above the nave and is capped by a cupola and crucifix that brings the total height 61 m.

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User Reviews

Monica C (10 months ago)
Wonderful Cathedral, we attended mass on the day of St Monica in August. So much Art, where ever you look. A must visit when in DC

Terry Teahan (15 months ago)
Stunning. A beautiful place of worship and reflection. 3 Pope's have said Mass here.

Thais Oliveira (2 years ago)
Oh my God, what a bless this Church is. What a beauty! I am shocked by the beauty of this church. I even stay por the pray time. Every detail is gorgeous and unexpected. The best energy, I didn'tknow how much I needed this place. And I went there by accident (or divine providence).

Augusto Paulino (2 years ago)
The simple facade of this cathedral contrasts with the awe-inspiring interior. It has grandeur but retains solemnity. There are many architectural details to admire: from the ornate ceiling, the skylit dome, the chapels and the carvings. It’s definitely worth a visit.

kathycleveland (2 years ago)
Along with being a historical landmark in DC because of JFK's funeral Mass there, this Cathedral is stunning. It is huge and has so many frescoes and statues and a gorgeous Dome that one really needs to see to appreciate. The priest who said the Mass when I attended was very introspective and his sermon was absolutely divine.

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St. Matthew's Cathedral

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