Clergy, civic leaders and artist standing in nave with dome and Iconostasis behind them during opening of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles, 1952
Contributor
Walker, Albert R. (Albert Raymond), 1881-1958 Klingerman, Charles A. (Arthur), 1912-1988 Kalionzes, Gus (William), 1910-1984 Walker, Kalionzes & Klingerman, Architects
This photograph appears with the article, "Cathedral of St. Sophia to Open Doors Sept. 28, New Church, Erected at Cost of $2,000,000, Will Be Center ofGreek Orthodoxy in U.S." Los Angeles Times, 15 Sept. 1952: A1. View towards the Iconostasis (Iconostasion) and apse of Saint Sophia Cathedral with a painting of the Virgin Mary arms outstretched and a medalion icon of the Christ-child in front of her. She is represented here as the Queen of Heaven, ready to receive the faithful to the Gates of Heaven. Inscribed in Greek on the arch of the Sanctuary, the translation proclaims: "This is the Gate of Heaven." The painting is 33 feet in diameter and the face is 7 1/2 feet in diameter. St. Sophia Cathedral, located at 1324 South Normandy Ave., opened in 1952. It was commissioned by theater executive Charles R. Skouras. Designed by the firm Walker, Kalionzes & Klingerman, it is frequently attributed to Gus Kalionzes. Artist William Chavalas, who trained at the Academy of arts in Athens and was the artistic director at 20th Century Fox designing film sets and movie theaters, created the wall paintings and designed the stained glass. The crystal chandeliers are Czechoslovakian. St. Sophia is Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #120. Text from newspaper caption: Impressive: Viewing the cathedral's interior are, left to right, A. K. Mellos, head of the Hellenic American Community; the Rev. L. C. Contos, pastor; Bishop Athenagoras; Artist William Chavalas, Charles P. Skouras, theater executuve. Handwritten on negative: A. K. Mellos, Father Contos, Bishop Athenagoras, William Chavalas, Charles P. Skouras
Type
image
Format
b&w negative
Identifier
ark:/21198/zz0002pf0d
Language
No linguistic content
Subject
Byzantine revival (Architecture)--California--Los Angeles Murals--California--Los Angeles Orthodox Eastern church buildings--California--Los Angeles Landmarks Chandeliers Iconostases Greek Americans--California--Los Angeles County--Religion Orthodox Eastern Church--Bishops Mellos, Athanasios, 1895-1977 Kokkinakis, Athenagoras T Chavalas, William T. (Tryphon), 1886-1956 Skouras, Charles P., 1889-1954 Saint Sophia Cathedral (Los Angeles, Calif.) Contos, Leonidas
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