Washington, DC The Islamic Center of Washington is the unofficial national mosque of the United States. Once the largest mosque in the New World, it has enjoyed a prominent role in the American Muslim community since the mid-20th century. Moreover, it is the most important mosque in Washington DC from a diplomatic standpoint. Many embassies from Muslim countries around … [Read more...]
MIKVEH ISRAEL CEMETERY
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Throughout the 18th century, the British colonies in North America saw a slow but steady growth in their Jewish populations. Although their numbers were not large prior to the Revolution, nowhere else in the world were Jews accepted with greater tolerance and equanimity than in the American colonies. Persecution was virtually non-existent. Because … [Read more...]
ST. MARK COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH
Jersey City, New Jersey The Coptic Orthodox Church was among the last major eastern churches to be established in the United States. Nevertheless America is now home to the largest Coptic Egyptian community in the world outside of Egypt, with the largest cluster located in and around Jersey City, New Jersey. St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Jersey City was the first in … [Read more...]
ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE CAMP
Ligonier, Pennsylvania Of the many branches of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the two most prevalent in America by far are the Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox. However, one of the most popular Eastern Orthodox saints in America belonged to neither of these, but rather the fairly uncommon Antiochan Orthodox Church: Father Raphael of Brooklyn. Honored by all of the Orthodox … [Read more...]
ST. KATHARINE DREXEL MISSION CENTER AND SHRINE
Bensalem, Pennsylvania Katharine Drexel, America’s most recently canonized saint, was possibly the most prolific Catholic missionary in the United States at the turn of the 20th century. Born into the wealthy Drexel family, she used much of her inherited wealth to establish schools and other institutions for the benefit of the poor. Unlike most other American saints, whose … [Read more...]
NATIONAL SHRINE OF ST. JOHN NEUMANN
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania John Neumann was a bishop of Philadelphia and, to date, the only fully American male citizen to be canonized as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. As bishop of a major American city during one of the great immigration booms, Neumann was instrumental in serving Catholics arriving from all over Europe, founding new churches to accommodate them, and … [Read more...]
NATIONAL SHRINE OF ELIZABETH ANN SETON
Emmitsburg, Maryland Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first native-born American citizen to be canonized, and is one of the most widely celebrated saints in the United States. An active missionary and energetic founder of schools during America’s early years, Seton was active throughout the American colonies. She is widely commemorated, especially in New York and Maryland, … [Read more...]
BASILICA OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Washington, DC The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception holds the record for having the longest name of any cathedral in America. Seriously though; this cathedral is the largest Catholic church building in the United States, and was once, for a brief time, the largest Christian church in the Western Hemisphere. Although it is not the oldest … [Read more...]
WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL
Washington, DC The Washington National Cathedral, also known by its more ponderous, official name, the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in the City and Diocese of Washington, is the defacto national church, at least from an honorary standpoint. It is one of the largest church buildings in the world, possibly the largest non-Roman Catholic, as well as one of the … [Read more...]
CHRIST CHURCH
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Christ Church of Philadelphia is one of the oldest churches of the Anglican Communion still standing in the United States, and is considered to be the birthplace of the American Episcopal Church. At the time of its founding in the late 1600s, it was among the first congregations of the Church of England in the colonies. For years the church … [Read more...]
