LIFE AS MYTH
JOURNAL
JOURNAL 2013
A living myth
Seven year cycles
WINTER 2013
A living faith
The chapels of the seven tongues
LIFEWORKS
ATLAS
WINTER 2013
A LIVING CATHEDRAL
(from top to bottom) a contemporary exterior view of the cathedral with Peace Fountain (sculpture by Greg Wyatt, 1985) in the foreground; a stone sculptor works on a capital with an angel in 1909; an interior view of the consecration service on April 19, 1911.
The cathedral’s greatness lies in its commitment to the belief that faith expressed through engagement with the world is the only way faith is truly expressed.
The Very Reverend Dr. James A. Kowalski, dean of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, remarks made at the cathedral reopening, November 2008, seven years after a "devastating fire" on December 18, 2001The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine is the largest cathedral and fourth largest Christian church in the world. Construction remains incomplete, earning it the nickname of St. John the Unfinished. Church stewards have historically refused to accrue debt to finance new construction which is the primary reason for the delay. Additionally, as the facility has aged, the cathedral has earmarked monies for maintenance rather than completion of the structure.
In December 2001, the cathedral experienced a massive fire that destroyed the gift shop and heavily damaged several valuable tapestries and portions of the church interior. A major renovation began in 2005 to restore and repair the organ, the tapestries and the church as a whole. This work ended with a rededication ceremony in 2008.
The cathedral has an active social service mission which includes The Sunday Soup Kitchen, health and wellness programming and advocacy as well as The Nutrition, Health and Clothing Center. The cathedral's longstanding support and sponsorship of the arts includes many public offerings centered around music, choral events, literature and the visual arts.
