Imagine a silk-ribbon factory transformed into a cathedral. That’s the story of Saints Kyril & Metodi Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocesan Cathedral. This house of worship stands at 552 West 50th Street in Manhattan. It serves as the headquarters for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Diocese. This diocese covers the United States Canada and Australia.
But its history is richer than you might expect. The building is 100 feet long and 28 feet wide. Its yellow brick facade hides a story of shifting congregations. In 1890, this location housed a silk-ribbon factory. By 1899, a church was already in place complete with an organ.
In 1909, a Polish Catholic parish named St Clemens Mary formed here. They briefly worshipped in a candy store before moving to this location. They were previously a Lutheran congregation. However, they soon built their own church on West 40th Street in 1913.
Then in 1913, Croatian Franciscan friars founded a Catholic parish here. It was dedicated to serving Croatian immigrants. German Franciscans Slovak parishes and a German church all contributed to its establishment. They donated everything from altars to money for renovations. The parish dedicated the church to Saints Cyril and Methodius. These ninth-century Greek brothers were recognized as saints.
For sixty years, the Croatian congregation called this place home. By early 1914, their congregation numbered about 4000. But in 1974, they moved to the grander St Raphael’s Church on West 41st Street. This merger created the parishes of Sts Cyril & Methodius and St Raphael.
After the Croatian congregation moved, the 50th Street building stood empty for years. Then, in 1979, the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church purchased it. They wisely retained the dedication to the Slavic patron saints. The cathedral was previously located on West 101st Street for forty years.
A major renovation costing $500000 was undertaken in 1982. Finally on May 13 1984 the newly restored Saints Kyril & Metodi Cathedral was consecrated. Today Saints Kyril & Metodi Cathedral stands as a testament to faith adaptation and community. It embodies the diverse religious history of New York City. It’s a place where a silk-ribbon factory transformed into a spiritual haven.