St. Nicholas Church, Tokyo

A little blue-green large dome building will come into view on the right side as you go down the Hongo street towards the Surugadai intersection from the bridge next to JR Ochanomizu Station. This is “St. Nicholas Church”, officially called “Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Tokyo”. It is called “St. Nicholas Church” by being built by the efforts of St. Nicholas who came to Japan for Orthodox conduction. It is the largest Byzantine style building in Japan. It was rebuilt in the later years though it collapsed at the Great Kanto Earthquake Disaster and was designated as an important cultural asset of the country in 1962 by escaping the damage of air raids during the Pacific War.
In 1891, St. Nicholas Church was built as Japan ‘s first full-fledged Byzantine-style building with a dome roof of 35 meters high. At the Great Kanto Earthquake Disaster in 1923, the bell tower and the dome collapsed and the interior was destroyed, but it was revived in 1929.
St. Nicholas Church, who escaped the difficulties of the Air Raid in the Pacific War, was designated as an important cultural property of the country in 1962. The dome covered with green patina is in the center of the Tokyo central city building, which creates an atmosphere full of exoticism.
Orthodox Church is a Christian denomination, also called Greek Orthodox. An organization is created for each country, Japan has “Orthodox Church of Japan”, St. Nicholas Church is positioned as the center of “Orthodox Church of Japan”. That is why it is called “Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Tokyo” because it is a cathedral that memorizes the resurrection of the Lord.
St. Nicholas Church is not just a historic building, it is still used as a church of “Orthodox Church of Japan”. However, within the time of worship and within the time of the cathedral worshiping time, it is possible to visit the building. An admission fee of about 300 yen is required. Since it may not be able to worship, it is necessary to check in advance. Let’s watch it in the Sacred Hall by keeping it quiet and observing the prohibitions of photography, eating and drinking etc.

The bell of a church sounds all over the town in the center of Tokyo

There are many churches in Tokyo, but only the Tokyo Resurrection cathedral church,which is familiar with the nickname of “Nikorai-do” (St.Nicholas Church), is designated as an important cultural asset of the country. The sound of the bell of a church with such a high historical value sounds all over the town of Ochanomizu in the center of Tokyo. The solemn world can be felt by stepping into the green domed cathedral.

It was designated as the important cultural property of the country

Nikolai Kasatkin, who is also the source of the name of St. Nicholas Church, came to Japan as a priest of Hakodate in 1891. He taught Orthodox teachings to the Japanese, built a cathedral like St.Nicholas Church in various parts of Japan, and expanded teaching.
Although St. Nicholas Church suffered serious damage by the Great Kanto Earthquake, but it was restored and was designated as the important cultural property of the country in 1962. It is regarded as one of the oldest important cultural assets for brick making.

Josiah Conder, father of modern Western buildings in Japan

The building with impressive green dome roof was designed by Josiah Conder, a British architect who is famous for the construction of modern Western buildings like Rokumeikan in the early Meiji era.
There are several Josiah Conder architectural works left in Tokyo. Old Furukawa residence, former Iwasaki residence, Mitsui Club, etc. are also famous, one of which is St. Nicholas Church.

Eight-pointed Cross

Please pay attention to the cross of the roof.
Is it different from the crucifix you usually see? because there are eight tip parts, this is called Eight-pointed Cross of Russian which is rare in Japan.
When Christ was executed, the cross having been carried on the back to Golgoda hill is said to have been this Eight-pointed Cross.

Beautiful stained glass, Icon on which the Biblical scene was drawn

The inside of the church of St.Nicholas Church is decorated with beautiful stained glass, Icon on which the Biblical scene was drawn, etc., and it is impressed even if it is not a believer.
In God ‘s hands, daily troubles may also blow away.

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