KYOTO, Japan — Kyoto is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, including its temples, shrines and a long history of Buddhist influence.
But what visitors may not know is that interest in Orthodoxy grew in the community of Kyoto, and a completed cathedral was deemed essential to anchor Orthodox evangelism in the city.
Kyoto Orthodox, also known as Holy Annunciation Cathedral, is the only Orthodox church in Kyoto Prefecture. The cathedral is a 15-minute walk from the Kyoto Shiyakusho Mae bus station, which is served by major city bus lines, including the 4, 7, and 205 city bus lines. Holy Annunciation is open on Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and liturgy services are scheduled for Sundays from 10:15 a.m. to noon.
Orthodox evangelism began in Kyoto in 1878. While orthodoxy grew, St. Nikolai came to Japan determined that Kyoto would have a cathedral.
This signified an effort to build a place of worship with a self-sustaining faith in Orthodoxy.
While walking to the cathedral, I could see the Orthodox cross atop the dome from afar. The closer I got, the more beautiful it was. The design was intricate with an elegant feel. Even though it was small, it seemed to me to represent what one’s faith would look like.
When I first walked into the narthex, I had to leave my shoes before entering the nave. A nave is where the faithful gather to worship. The interior had a cotton-white color scheme that followed up with Byzantine architectural flourishes. Every corner you look at is breathtakingly beautiful. The cathedral is filled with icons.
The iconostasis, which is a wall of icons, was made in the workshop of J.E. Epanechnikov in Moscow. When the icons arrived, they were slightly flawed but were repaired without fail by iconographer Irina Yamashita Rin.
While installing the iconostasis, workers realized it was too wide for the interior of the cathedral. To make it fit, the screen had to be slightly folded on its side.
By the time the interior was finished, the church was consecrated as Kyoto Cathedral on May 10, 1903, by St. Nikolai.
The cathedral is a perfect size for a small community. When I attended the liturgy, I saw a host of locals who worship at the cathedral regularly. There were about 20 people at the service that day.
Because the liturgy was in Japanese, I faced a huge language barrier. The sermon was also given in Japanese. Although I couldn’t understand it, I was still happy to worship God.
As an Orthodox Coptic convert myself, the service reminded me of home. It had similar worship, but different hymns. It was beautiful listening to how the voices echoed throughout the whole cathedral. Communion was offered toward the end of the liturgy, and the liturgy only lasted for 2 hours, which was different from Coptic Orthodoxy.
The cathedral was built by a faith that endures today. St. Nikolai, who helped spread the faith of Orthodoxy in Japan, made it possible at a time when Japan was suspicious of foreign religions.
Visiting this cathedral put me in mind of a Bible verse, Matthew 16:18, New Living Translation: “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”
To listen to an audio version of this story, please click here.
