St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral

RESTORE SAINT GEORGE CATHEDRAL

Join us in preserving this treasured, historical landmark for generations to come.
The restoration is made possible from the generosity of our parishioners, benefactors, and friends of the cathedral.

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Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral Restoration Fund

In February 2008, a Feasibility Study was commissioned to provide the members with a better understanding of the building conditions and their historic significance. Historic Building Architects, LLC were appointed the preservation architects and team leaders with Robert Silman Associates PC as structural engineers, Femenella and Associates, Inc. as stained-glass consultants, and Daedalus Projects Inc. as cost estimators.

The purpose of the Preservation Plan was to look at and address the big picture and to provide direction to the Cathedral on the recommended scope and phasing of the work over the next 10 years but no later then 15 years. Though some improvements were attempted between 2008 and 2015, the condition of the cathedral has in fact worsened and consequently increased the urgency of a complete restoration.

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Your financial support is needed to meet the aggressive funding & construction schedule for the completion of the restoration.

Phase 1:: Wooden/Marble Flooring, Windows, Column Bases.
Phase 2:: Roof Repairs & Interior Finishes.
Phase 3:: Portico Structural Repairs, Column/Stairs Restoration.

Design Development Estimate

Buildings & Grounds Report

The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George occupies a series of interconnected buildings referred to as the Cathedral, Sunday School Building, and Community Center. The buildings are all connected and create an L-shaped plan. There is a full basement under the Cathedral and a partial basement under the Sunday School Building. The buildings were constructed in three distinct phases. The Cathedral was designed by John Haviland in 1822, the Sunday School Building was added shortly after, between 1838 and 1840, and the Community Center was constructed in 1950. The Cathedral was originally constructed as St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, John Haviland’s own congregation. The Cathedral is designed in the Greek revival style and is believed to be modeled on the Temple of Bacchus at Teos. It has a broad rectangular floor plan running east to west, 66’-7” x 87’-10”. The front portico faces east with six ionic columns supporting it. A large, paneled door 25’ high with seven vertical by four horizontal panels is located at the center of this façade. There is a raised platform below the portico comprised of bluestone with marble steps leading from street level to the platform. These steps span the entire front façade of the Cathedral. The walls of the building are constructed of load bearing brick that has been covered with scored stucco scored to imitate ashlar. The stucco has been covered in a white textured paint. The foundation below the water table is made up of schist fieldstone. The East Façade is finished with a cast and wrought iron fence in neoclassical style. Windows for the basement, first floor and second floor align vertically on both the north and south elevations of the building, five windows for each floor on each façade of the building. The Narthex has a half-curved wood staircase at both the North and South Elevations. The interior of the Sanctuary is arranged in a conventional three-aisle plan with balconies to the north, east and west. The roof trusses are exposed but have replaced an originally flat ceiling, which had heavily ornamented coffering. A fire in 1930 destroyed the roof and caused the plaster ceiling to fall. Two pilasters based on the order of the North Porch of the Erechtheum survived the fire and now frame the apse, the head of which was carried into a curved recess above the original ceiling line. The gallery supports are then wood columns comprised of a cluster of palm leaves for flutes, running over at the tops and forming a capital. A small wreath is placed above each one and the whole is bronzed and supports a light entablature. The gallery in turn is supported in the basement by a series of arched brick walls. The stained glass windows are highly decorative at the first floor with simpler colored plate glass rectangular windows at the balcony level. There are a total of four window bays along the North and South Elevations. Basement access is through an exterior door at the southwest corner. The addition of the Sunday School Building covered the north side of the west façade of the Cathedral. The south side of the west façade is still exposed. A tall, narrow wooden door still provides access from the Sanctuary to the exterior of the building on the south side of this façade.

The primary focus of this study is the Cathedral, which was the original structure. Information on the additions and alterations may be lacking in this chronology, however, the chronology is important because it helps convey a better understanding of the alterations to the building and sequence of construction. 1822: The Cathedral was designed by John Haviland as Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Saint Andrew’s was John Haviland’s own congregation. 1838-1840: The construction of the first addition to the rear (west of the Cathedral). This addition is now known as the Sunday School Building. 1852: John Haviland dies and is presumably buried in a crypt in the basement of the Cathedral. The stone remains today.
• 1921: Saint Andrew’s Church no longer has a large enough urban congregation to sustain the building. The building is sold and becomes the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George.
• October 1930: A fire in the Cathedral destroys the interior except for a single icon from Greece. The fire also damages the roof, destroys the coffered plaster ceiling and the balcony windows. When the Cathedral is reconstructed, the flat ceiling is not reinstated and charred beams are
• boxed in and the trusses left revealed. A picture taken of the congregation in 1937 on the front steps of the building shows the stucco on the exterior of the Cathedral to be flaking off in large chunks. This may have been a remnant of the fire damage that the Cathedral could not attend to right away.
• 1935 & 1936: The Cathedral was nearly lost to the bank due to foreclosure. It was saved by two women from the congregation that forestalled the sheriff long enough for the money to be raised to save the building. There is some question as to what happened to John Haviland’s remains,
• which may have been moved when the building changed ownership or when it was nearly lost to foreclosure.
• 1942: King George II of Greece visited the Cathedral. A photograph taken at the time shows the interior restored after the fire.
• 1950: The Community Center was added. It is connected to the Sunday School Building on its north façade.
• 1983: John Dickey, Architect prepared a study that gives recommendation for the care of the structure, including the ventilation of wood columns and the removal of paint layers.
• 1984: HABS photographic documentation.
• 2004: Keast & Hood completed a structural stabilization for the Cathedral ceiling framing and installed a new standing seam lead coated copper roof.
• 2008: Feasibility Study led by Restoration Historic Building Architects, LLC, for the restoration of cathedral.
• 2010: Renovations completed to the interior hardwood and marble floors, stain-glass windows, and column bases

The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George contributes strongly to the historic character of Center City Philadelphia. It is listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places and the Historic American Building Survey documented the building in 1984. The Cathedral is an outstanding example of John Haviland’s work. He was becoming a prominent Philadelphia architect in the early 1820s. In the first half of that decade, Haviland would also design Eastern State Penitentiary, the Pennsylvania Institute for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, and the Franklin Institute. The Cathedral is an excellent example of the Greek revival style architecture that was popular during this time period. The exterior finishes that have been analyzed and documented in the Material Analysis, Appendix B demonstrate significant use of finishes that were in use in the 1820s. Although the Cathedral of Saint George was not the first Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Philadelphia, Saint Luke’s at 17th and Fitzwater had that honor, it was and is very significant to the Greek community of Philadelphia. In 1921, the year that the Cathedral was purchased, Greek Town spanned from 13th and Locust to 8th and Locust. There may have been several reasons that the Greek community decided to add another location in 1921. The cigarette industry was booming and the Lucky Strike cigarette factory owned by the Stefano family on Walnut and 12th hired many of their employees from the surrounding neighborhood. The first church may have become too small to accommodate the growing number of members. Finally, the political contentions current in Greece during the 1920s carried over to the US and the Royalist and Venizelos supporters may not have wanted to share the same church. The Cathedral of Saint George may have been intended to serve a more aristocratic congregation.

In February 2008, a Feasibility Study was commissioned to provide the parishioners with a better understanding of the building conditions and its historic significance. Historic Building Architects, LLC was appointed the preservation architects and team leaders with Robert Silman Associates PC as structural engineers, Femenella and Associates, Inc. as stained-glass consultants, and Daedalus Projects Inc. as cost estimators. The purpose of the Preservation Plan was to review and address the big picture and provide direction to the Cathedral on the recommended scope and phasing of the work over the next 10 years but no later then 15 years. The initial Phase 1 improvements were completed between 2008 and 2010. The continuance of the improvements were delayed due to fundraising shortfalls and the CoVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the exterior condition of the cathedral has in fact worsened and consequently increased the urgency of restoration.