SAINT NICHOLAS RUSSIAN CATHEDRAL is graced with five onion domes and its design is based on that of 17th Century Baroque churches in Moscow. An encounter with this beautiful building on the Upper East Side (at 15 East 97th Street) is somewhat jolting and surprising to today's passerby.  The unique beauty of the interior of the cathedral is equally matched by the beauty of the its exterior of red brick, limestone and glazed tiles and onion domes that seem to be right out of Moscow or Saint Petersburg.  A painting of Jesus can be seen within one of the onion domes (bottom photo).  Designed by a Russian architect, John Bergesen, and built in the early 1900s (1901 – 02), this cathedral serves as the diocesan seat for the Russian Orthodox Church in North American. The Russian people raised funds for the cathedral’s construction.  The first donation to the building fund was made by Czar Nicholas II.  The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the building as a landmark in 1973.

Drop by before or after a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art or combine a visit here with a visit to Gracie Mansion on East 88th Street.