This elegant cathedral is dedicated to the Apostle Matthew, who was a patron saint of civil servants amongst other things, having himself been a tax collector. Now let’s delve deep into the history of St. Matthew’s Cathedral. This cathedral was originally established in the year 1840 and was the fourth Catholic parish in Columbia District. It was originally located at15th and H Streets. The construction of the present church started in 1893 and the first mass was celebrated on June 2, 1895. Finally it was dedicated to St. Matthew in 1913. In the year 1939, the church was designed as a cathedral when the Archdiocese of Washington got established.
The architecture of St. Matthew’s Cathedral is so unique that is draws tons of tourists every year for being a significant tourist attraction in District of Columbia. The structure is Romanesque along with Byzantine elements. Architect C. Grant La Farge designed the structure and it is shaped like a Latin cross with a seating arrangement for about 2000 persons. The interior of the cathedral is richly adorned in marble and other semi-precious stones, mainly the 35-foot mosaic of Matthew sculpted by Edwin Howland Blashfield. The structural and decorative features underwent extensive restoration from 2000 till September 21, 2003, St. Matthew’s Feast day.
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