The father of skyscrapers also built an Orthodox church… and…
The father of skyscrapers also built an Orthodox church… and nailed it.
Everyone knows Louis Sullivan as the father of skyscrapers, the trailblazer of the Chicago School, the pioneer of American modernism, and the man whose famous phrase “form follows function” is etched into the DNA of every modern architect.
But did you know he also designed an Orthodox church? And not just any church—but Holy Trinity Cathedral in Chicago, founded back in 1882 by Orthodox immigrants who wanted to bring their faith into the city’s skyline.
When Sullivan took on the project, he didn’t just design the building. He donated his entire fee to buy the church’s chandelier. That’s right—the great Sullivan paid for the light that still shines in the sanctuary today.
Completed in 1903, the church is a rare blend of American modernist architecture and the spirit of Siberian wooden churches—with its narrow conical roofs, a bold pyramidal bell tower, clean white plaster, and a touch of imperial history (even Emperor Nicholas II personally donated $4,000).
Next time you pass by, look up at the bell tower. Can you feel Sullivan’s rational yet powerful design language?
Drop your thoughts in the comments!
#AleksandrMolodin #Orthodoxarchitecture #churcharchitecture #chicagoarchitecture #LouisSullivan #orthodoxchurch #holytrinitycathedral #churchhistory #architecturelovers #historicpreservation #heritagearchitecture #faithandarchitecture #FrankLloydWright #formfollowsfunction #americanmodernism #chicagoschool
