Beauty of Russian Church Design

The Cathedral of St. Michaels or St. Michael the Archangel as it is commonly called was constructed in the mid to late 1840's. The Cathedral is located in Sitka, Alaska which at the time was the Seat of the Russian Orthodox Diocese that administered all of North America. This beautiful building is an excellent example of Russian church building design. It remained the largest and most impressive religious structure in Alaska until well into the 20th century. The present-day place of worship is a restoration of the original construction which burned to the ground in January 1966 along with many businesses in the town of Sitka. Fortunately, many of the icons and religious objects important to the Russian Orthodox Religion were able to be salvaged from the ruins. These objects are on display in the rebuild Cathedral for visitors to view. The present day structure was completed in 1976.

The Cathedral is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Visitors may tour the Cathedral during the summer months when the cruise ships make their way into the Sitka harbor area. Lengthy Sunday services can be attended by tourists. Guided tours with knowledgeable guides are available during the cruise ship season, or visitors may wonder the Cathedral on self-guided exploration.