St. Josaphat's Cathedral, Edmonton

Located in Edmonton’s McCauley neighborhood, Saint Josaphat’s Cathedral is one of Canada’s finest examples of Byzantine Rite church architecture. Serving as the seat of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton since 1948, the cathedral holds both religious and architectural significance. It occupies a prominent 18-lot property and stands out with its seven domes, columned entry portico, red brick veneer, darker brick pilasters, and inlaid cream-coloured crosses.

The parish was founded in 1902 by the Order of Saint Basil the Great, initially lacking a permanent home. A modest log church was built in 1904 under the guidance of Reverend Sozont Dydyk. The current cathedral was designed in 1938 by Reverend Philip Ruh, a Belgian Oblate missionary deeply familiar with Ukrainian Byzantine architecture. His vision blended Ukrainian Baroque with Western European styles, resulting in a distinctive "Prairie Cathedral" aesthetic. Due to height restrictions linked to the nearby Edmonton City Centre Airport, the structure was built lower than originally intended, yet it remains the most elaborate Ukrainian church in Alberta.

Construction spanned from 1939 to 1947. The cathedral’s spiritual and artistic depth grew to start in 1951 when Professor Julian Bucmaniuk began painting its interior with murals, frescos, and icons. The iconostasis was added in 1968, enriching the sanctuary’s sacred presence.

Saint Josaphat’s Cathedral has received heritage recognition at multiple levels: as a Provincial Historic Resource in 1983 and a Municipal Historic Resource in 2015. It stands today not only as a center of faith but also as a lasting tribute to Ukrainian-Canadian religious and cultural identity.