Holy Trinity Cathedral Orthodox Church In America

BONG!!! BONG!!! BONG!!!
Though it pains me to say, this review will having nothing to do with the ganj.
It’s lucky I’m an early riser because Holy Trinity’s incessant tolling might piss me off. It’s 9:30am on Sunday and I’m actually enjoying the cacophony ensuing right up the block. It makes me feel like when I venture outside I’ll be stepping onto some picturesque square in medieval Prague instead of a street full of badly parked cars and cigarette butts.
Russian and Orthodox I am not, but I’ve actually been inside this place. On weekends they open ‘er up to us nosey nonbelievers to have a look ’round. Not really a guided tour per se but the girl at the door was very friendly and able to answer questions. Expect lots of icons* and I think what could best be terms as a «relic». And Louis Sullivan is the shit.
So this church pleases me. It offers as a sound landmark when directing guests to my nearby abode and it also allows me to make a complete fool out of myself (much to the amusement of these guests) when I drunkenly hang off the balcony and yell «CHURCH!» at people leaving Mass at 3am during the orthodox Easter season.
*I’m knocking off one star because icons STILL scare the shit out of me. My step-​mom is Ukrainian Catholic and when I’d go to stay at my step-grandma’s house when I was little I would freak the fuck out because she had an icon hanging right by the bed and I couldn’t sleep. Even though it was just Mary, I’d make my step-​mom take it down. Stop staring into my soul, creepy emaciated Jesus! AHHHH!

Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral was built by Russian immigrants to Chicago in 1903. It is a magnificent structure with gold leaf onion domes and traditional Russian-​Ukrainian 3 barred crosses. It is a must see in West Town!
Holy Trinity has been a spiritual center for Orthodox Christians living in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Designed by Louis H. Sullivan, under the leadership of St. John of Chicago, it was consecrated by St. Tikhon of Moscow. An official City of Chicago Landmark, the Cathedral is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.