Washington, D.C., United States
Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle
The seat of the Archdiocese of Washington, a Roman-Renaissance church where presidents have prayed and where John F. Kennedy's funeral Mass was held in 1963.
The cathedral sits on Rhode Island Avenue in the middle of downtown Washington, surrounded by office buildings and lobbyist firms, which somehow makes it more interesting rather than less. You push through the heavy bronze doors and the city noise cuts out. The interior is Byzantine-Romanesque with a massive dome overhead, its pendentives covered in mosaics of the four Evangelists that took decades to complete. The floor beneath the dome has a simple brass marker where Kennedy's casket rested during his funeral Mass, three days after Dallas. People still stop and stand on it quietly. The side chapels are dim and personal-feeling, each with its own character. Matthew was a tax collector before Jesus called him, which feels right for a cathedral in the capital — a place full of people whose work is worldly but who still need somewhere to kneel. The building was designed by C. Grant LaFarge, son of the artist John LaFarge, and finished in 1913. Sunday Mass here draws diplomats, Hill staffers, tourists, and the neighborhood regulars who have been coming for years.
Diocese: Archdiocese of Washington
Style: Roman Renaissance Revival with Byzantine elements
What to See
The dome is the centerpiece — look up to see the Evangelists and their symbols rendered in gold and deep blue mosaic. The brass floor marker for Kennedy is easy to spot beneath the dome; there is no railing or rope, just a small inscription. The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament to the left of the sanctuary is a good place to sit and pray quietly. The baptistry near the entrance has a carved stone font worth pausing at. The stations of the cross along the side walls are carved in low relief and easy to miss in dim light. After Mass or a visit, walk the perimeter to see the side chapel altarpieces, several of which honor saints with connections to the Americas.
Pilgrim Notes
The cathedral is at 1725 Rhode Island Avenue NW, walkable from the Dupont Circle and Farragut North Metro stations. Mass is celebrated daily, with multiple Sunday Masses including a noon Mass that draws large crowds. The Red Mass for legal professionals is held each fall before the Supreme Court term opens. Confessions are heard regularly. The cathedral is open for visitors throughout the day and there is no admission charge. The surrounding blocks are busy with restaurants and offices, which makes it easy to fold a visit into a day of sightseeing. Dress code is respectful but not strict.