St. George's Cathedral, Lviv
St. George's Cathedral (Ukrainian: Собор святого Юра, Sobor sviatoho Yura) is a Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) cathedral in Lviv, Ukraine. The cathedral is located on a hill overlooking the city, holding a predominant position not only geographically but also in religious and cultural terms as a holy site, and during the 19th and 20th centuries the mother church of the UGCC.[1] The cathedral was constructed between 1744-1760 in the baroque-rococo architectural style.
The first church on St. George Mountain (Sviatoyurs'ka Hora) existed in the 13th century, at the time of Halych-Volhynia Principality. Although the cathedral was destroyed numerous times by invaders, it has always been reconstructed. In the 18th century, it appeared in its present grandeur and beauty.[2]
Description of the Cathedral
A pearl of European art designed by architect Bernard Meretin, and sculptor Johann Georg Pinsel, St. George's Cathedral reflects merged Western influences and traditions of a Ukrainian church building.[2] The cathedral was erected under the guidance of Metropolitan Athanasiy Sheptytsky.
An expressive statue of St. George the Dragon-slayer, by Pinsel , stands in the church attic. Pinsel's hands also created the stony images of St. Leo and St. Athanasius who stand on guard over the church portal "warning with their stern look about their readiness to fight against anyone not showing enough venerability."[1] In contrast, the architecture of the courtyard has a soothing effect on a visitor.
An icon for the Church parish by Luka Dolynskyi depicts the banishment of merchants from the Temple. Another icon, "Apostles", conveys a very strong expression of pain and desperate begging of the human being to the Almighty so that He would bestow eternity on "a feeble soul stiff with the fear of death."[1]
The most precious relic of the church is the Wonder-working Icon of the Virgin Mary (17th century). It was brought to Lviv from Terebovlia in 1674 by bishop Joseph Shumlianskyi.
In the Cathedral's tombs are buried distinguished figures of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. Among them are Cardinal Sylvester Sembratovych, Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky, Patriarch Josyf Slipyj, Metropolitan Volodymyr Sterniuk, and Myroslav Ivan Cardinal Lubachivsky.[2]
The architectural ensemble of St. George's Cathedral also includes a belfry, the metropolitan's palace and chapter house, and a garden, enclosed behind two gates.
