The mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, is celebrating its 175th anniversary on Oct. 12 with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Edward Malesic followed by a 175th anniversary gala at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower.
The gala begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails, appetizers and a silent auction. Dinner is at 7 p.m. followed by music, dancing and results of the silent auction. The event is black tie optional. Proceeds will benefit the Cathedral Renovation Fund.
Ticket prices are $400; $350 for seniors 65 and older or $200 for those 35 and younger. Table sponsorships are also available. Click here for more information or to purchase tickets.
One of the first decisions Bishop Amadeus Rappe, the first bishop of the diocese, had to make was where to construct a cathedral. The church is the location of the cathedra, or the bishop’s chair. The diocese was erected in 1847, and work began on the new cathedral the following year. It was located on Erie Street (now East Ninth Street) and was designed by architect Patrick Charles Keeley . It was one of his first designs. Keeley went on to become one of the premier church architects of the 19th century.
The cornerstone was laid Oct. 22, 1848, and the building was finished in 1852. The first Mass was celebrated in the temporary Chapel of the Nativity on Dec. 25, 1848. During the week, the building housed a school. In 1857, a school for boys was built and in 1867, a school for girls and the cathedral hall were completed. The interior of the cathedral was finished in 1876, and a spire was added in 1879.
The cathedral has a Gothic revival design with vaulted arches supported by 16 fluted, stone-lined pillars. The ceiling is painted in a blend of blues, tans and gold leaf accents with stars, leaf patterns, fleur de lis and crown designs at the triangle points. Stained-glass windows portraying the Christian liturgical calendar can be seen throughout the cathedral. Among the scenes are the Annunciation, the Nativity, the presentation in the temple, the Last Supper, the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, the Redemption through Christ, the north rose window centered by the hand of God and the south rose window depicting the Holy Spirit. The windows in the nave were installed in 1902 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the cathedral’s completion.
Additional work was done on the church in 1927 and in 1946, as its centennial approached, a major reconstruction began. The work took two years, and the newly rebuilt cathedral was consecrated on Sept. 4, 1948. Another renovation took place in 1977. Bells were added to the cathedral’s bell tower in 1988. In anticipation of the 175th anniversary of the diocese, an extensive renovation of the cathedral began in 2022. Included were rebuilding the front steps and handicap ramp, tuckpointing and sealing the exterior, a new state-of-the-art sound system and redesigning of the cathedral courtyard.
Click here to watch a video about the cathedral and its history. Learn more about the cathedral here.
