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

Carol Craul (6 months ago)
Fabelous lovely place to attend Mass... Beautiful interior..lots of room for social distancing!

Linda Trouville (7 months ago)
Great covid protocols and lots of history. Mass was beautiful!

Michael Kosenski (7 months ago)
A blessing to pray in this sacred cathedral. It is stunning and tranquil at the same time. Awe inspiring yet intimate. A beautiful place to spend time with the Lord!

Lily G.M. (9 months ago)
Father John Benson’s masses are the best!!, his preachings are relatable, funny, not boring at all and makes you participate which makes it and unforgettable experience!, his Spanish masses are awesome!????

Mitchell Hughes (10 months ago)
I went to Stations of the Cross during Lent several years ago. It is truly a beautiful cathedral and a most peaceful place to worship.

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