Cathedral of Saint Mary Magdalene: A Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Madrid
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.6
- Popularity
- Low
- Country
- Spain
- Primary era
- Modern
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Modern
- Civilizations
- Russian
- Site type
- Religious
- Remains
- Cathedral
On this page7 sections
History
The Cathedral of Saint Mary Magdalene is a Russian Orthodox cathedral in Madrid, Spain, built in the neo-Russian style between 2010 and 2013. It belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate and serves as the principal church of the Diocese of Madrid and Lisbon.
The embassy chapel
An Orthodox presence connected with Saint Mary Magdalene began in Madrid in 1761, when the Russian embassy established a house chapel dedicated to the saint under the envoy Petr Repnin. Saint Mary Magdalene is traditionally regarded in Christianity as a follower of Jesus and a witness to his resurrection. The chapel moved several times as the embassy changed premises.
In 1882, reductions in state expenditure led to the abolition of the embassy chapel. Its iconostasis, a screen separating the sanctuary from the main body of an Orthodox church, and its liturgical furnishings were transferred to Buenos Aires. An image of Saint Mary Magdalene later found there was returned to Madrid for the new church.
Establishment of the parish and cathedral
A Moscow Patriarchate parish dedicated to the Nativity of Christ was established in Madrid in 2002. The parish initially rented space in a former furniture workshop. The drive to create a permanent Russian Orthodox church gained political momentum after President Dmitry Medvedev visited Spain in March 2009. Svetlana Medvedeva visited the parish on 1 March, and Madrid mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón promised on 2 March to help allocate land for a church.
The Nativity of Christ Foundation was registered with Spain’s Ministry of Culture and headed by the parish rector, Father Andrey Kordochkin. Its trustees included Archbishop Mark of Yegoryevsk, who led the Moscow Patriarchate’s administration for foreign institutions, and Maria Vladimirovna Romanova, who lived in Madrid. On 9 July 2010, the Embassy of Russia in Madrid and ambassador Alexander Kuznetsov secured an agreement with Madrid’s authorities for a 756-square-metre site. The land was transferred to the foundation, which was associated with the Moscow Patriarchate.
A construction permit followed on 5 October 2011. On 6 December that year, Archbishop Mark of Yegoryevsk and Bishop Nestor of Korsun consecrated the foundation stone in the presence of Svetlana Medvedeva. The church was completed during 2010 to 2013 and opened for Orthodox worship in 2013. On 19 May 2013, Bishop Nestor performed the minor consecration and celebrated the first episcopal Divine Liturgy.
Diocesan cathedral
The congregation brought together Russians, Ukrainians, Georgians, Moldovans, other Russian-speaking residents of Madrid, and Spaniards. On 28 December 2018, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church established the Diocese of Madrid and Lisbon during the reorganization of the Archdiocese of Chersonesus within the Patriarchal Exarchate of Western Europe. On 18 January 2019, Archbishop Nestor formally granted the church cathedral status within the new diocese. A cultural center called Casa Rusia, or “Russian House,” operates in association with the cathedral.
Remains
The cathedral stands at 48 Gran Vía de Hortaleza in Madrid, on a 756-square-metre site. Designed in the neo-Russian style, a modern revival of historic Russian Orthodox forms, the complex combines the church with an annex used as a residence and as the Casa Rusia cultural center.
Church building
Moscow architect A. R. Vorontsov prepared the design in collaboration with Spanish architect Jesús San Vicente. Five gilded domes crown the cathedral, symbolizing Christ and the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, traditionally associated with the four canonical Gospels. The returned image of Saint Mary Magdalene from Buenos Aires adorns the new church.
Annex and cultural center
An annex forms part of the cathedral complex and serves both as a residence and as the Casa Rusia cultural center. Its inclusion gives the site a residential and cultural function alongside its role as a place of Orthodox worship.
