The Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

There are so many beautiful monuments that are found across the world and these monuments and beautiful structures only add to the entire tour ecstasy and the total travel pleasures.

The Catholic Cathedral of Our lady of the Angels is one such structure that is found in Los Angeles and is a structure that has attracted tourists from across the world. This is a monument that has a grand architecture and is very interesting and intriguing. This is famous amongst all the modern art structures and is famous amongst the Catholic shrines in this part of the world.

This is a structure that has come in place of the Cathedral of Saint Vibiana which was constructed sometime in the year 1876, and was severely destroyed in the earthquake that occurred here in the year 1994. There was a lot of debate on reconstructing the entire structure and after a lot of controversy the decision was taken to build the structure in a new place in the year 1996. The earlier cathedral was bought by a developer by the name of Tom Gilmore in the year 1999. He then transformed it into an arts complex called Vibiana.

Then after the decision was taken to build the cathedral in a new site, it was also told by the Cardinal Roger Mahony that the monument would be named as the Cathedra of Our Lady of Angels. This was a title that the Pope had approved in the year 1945 when the plans for reconstructing the ST. Vibiana’s were on. The title is very indicative of the original name that Los Angeles had when it was founded in the year 1781. Los Angeles was called the EL Pueblo de Nuestra Senora, REina de Los Angeles. So the cathedral came to be known as the City of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels. In fact September 4 is her feast day and is celebrated every year.

The present location was owned by the entire city and was used as a parking space till the Diocese bought it in the year 1996 for around 10. 85 million dollars. The initial budget was for constructing a new cathedral was accounted for around 150 million dollars and there were lot of donations made to this effect for a final estimated cost of around 189.7 million dollars.

There were Ground Blessing Ceremonies that took place before the Consruction began and in the year 1997, the historical monument began to be built. There was a formal blessing that was held and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels had the formal blessing and dedication in the year 2002 in September.

The complex has a large courtyard with a lovely shrine, café and also a parking lot. It spans an area of around 58,000 square feet. The cathedral is around 333 feet long and is around a foot longer than the St. Patrick’s cathedral in the city of New York. It rises to a height of around 80 feet at the western end to around 100 feet at the eastern end . There is a tall bell tower here and this is separate from the main building of the cathedral as per the Italian tradition.

With a very impressive façade this is a building that has very less right angles and has the latest building designs protecting it from earthquakes and other such disasters. Designed by Rafaell Moneo, this is a lovely example of absolutely brilliant architectural elegance. The interiors of the cathedral have lovely illumination and the Spanish alabaster high windows provide greatly pleasurable sights to the tourist. The entrance takes  you to a large ambulatory and there is a slight incline as the entire way leads to a light filled altar.

There is a statue of the Virgin Mary made of bronze that is located at the entrance and she is depicted with bare arms, no veil and has her arms outstretched as if to welcome every tourist coming here.

The Cathedral of Our lady of the Angels thus is a magnificent structure and a feast for the eyes.