Saint Sophia Cathedral, Washington, DC

Washington, D.C., United States

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

Phone: +1 202-333-4730

From OpenStreetMap — confirm before travelling

Find out more

OfficialOfficial website↗

Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, D.C., stands near Massachusetts Avenue and a short distance from the Washington National Cathedral. Founded in 1904 to serve the Greek Orthodox community, the church was elevated to cathedral status in 1962 under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of America. The current limestone building, designed in the Neo-Byzantine style, was constructed beginning in 1951 at 2815 36th Street NW, with the congregation beginning worship there in 1955. Its defining feature is a central dome rising 80 feet in height. Named not for a saint but for the Holy Wisdom of God—in the tradition of Constantinople's Hagia Sophia—the cathedral was formally consecrated in May 2015 by Archbishop Demetrios of America, with relics of three saints interred in the altar table. An education center containing classrooms, a library, and a ballroom was added to the east of the sanctuary in 2004. Interior decoration, begun in 1965, continues to the present day.