Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene Equal to the Apostles in Warsaw

The Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene Equal to the Apostles in Warsaw, built in the second half of the 19th century, served the growing Orthodox community, primarily Russians and inhabitants of the eastern territories of the Russian Partition who settled in the Praga district. The architecture of the building reflects the Byzantine-Russian style and is distinguished by its Greek cross plan and five onion domes. The interior of the church is adorned with frescoes by Sergei Vinogradov, and the main feature is a three-tiered iconostasis with icons created by Vasily Vasiliev. The cathedral, which has held metropolitan status since 1921, plays a significant role in the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church as its main temple. During the interwar period and World War II, despite plans for demolition, it survived the hostilities, and in 1945 it underwent conservation. In the People's Republic of Poland, it faced financial difficulties, but after 1965, when it was entered into the register of monuments, renovations began and continued for several decades. In the 1990s, restoration work resumed, and in the 21st century, further efforts were undertaken to preserve the frescoes and icons. An interesting fact is that in 1930, the poet Konstanty Ildefons Gałczyński and Natalia Awałow were married in this church. Nearby the cathedral is the Chapel of St. Michael the Archangel, which was put into use in 1999. The cathedral is one of the few preserved examples of Orthodox architecture in Warsaw and also serves as an example of the cultural and religious presence of Russians in Poland.