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Shanghai Cathedral of the "Surety of Sinners" Icon of the Theotokos

The cornerstone laying of the hierarchical Cathedral dedicated to the Theotokos, Surety of Sinners, took place in May 1933.

The Cathedral was located at the former Route Paul Henry, adjacent to the parc de Ravine in the French Concession (present day 55, Xīnlè Road, Xúhuì District ), Shanghai.

The idea of building this cathedral began as early as 1929 by Archbishop Simon. Near the end of 1934 upon the arrival from Serbia of the newly consecrated Bishop John (Maximovitch) of Shanghai, this magnificent cathedral along with a three-story parish house and bell tower was finally completed in February 1936 under the supervision of St John the Wonderworker.

In the 1930s, after Protodeacon Fr. Fedot Stepanovich Zadorozhny left Harbin for Shanghai, he was engaged in the painting of the cathedral in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "The Guarantor of Sinners." In autumn 1936 he finished painting the walls and the icon of the Almighty God of hosts in the main dome (preserved to this day). In June 1939, the 25th anniversary of his icon-painting work was celebrated with a solemn prayer service in the cathedral.

In May 1942, Fr Michael Rogozhin was appointed rector. From 1946 until the Communist came to power in 1949, Fr Elias Wen was the rector of the Cathedral. In May 1951, Patriarch Alexy of Moscow assigned Bishop Simeon (Du) to the Shanghai Diocese. According to Shanghai municipal archive, the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral was last celebrated in Febrary 1962, when Bishop Simeon fell ill.

The church building until recently has been used by "The Dome" bar restaurant.

1937-41 Photos by Harrison Forman
from the American Geographical Society Library,
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries
Photographs

cornerstone laying, May 1933
photo from pastvu.com

cornerstone laying, May 1933
photo from Shanghai Library

photo from Shanghai Library

photo from Shanghai Library

c. 1936, courtesy of Shanghai Russian Club

The first Paschal Matins in 1934
photo from Museum of Church Archaeology, MDPA

photo from memoryofchina.org

Nov 12, 1937 internment camp.
photo from memoryofchina.org

1937 photo from Malcolm Rosholt Collection
hpcbristol.net

1937 photo from Malcolm Rosholt Collection
hpcbristol.net

1937-39 photo from history.navy.mil

1937-39 photo from history.navy.mil

May-July 1938 photos from
croiseur-lamotte-picquet.fr

Bishop's house & Cathedral
at the parc de Ravine

from "The Orthodox Word"
pg 172, Nov-Dec 1966

1942-46 photo from fotoe.com

A corner of Dumei Park
(Xiangyang Park) from 1942-1946
photo from kdslife.com

1940s postcard from the U.K.

1940s photo from flickr.com

Temple in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos in Shanghai
pre-1948 photo from Museum of Church Archaeology, MDPA

Temple in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Bishops' House in Shanghai
pre-1948 photo from Museum of Church Archaeology, MDPA

May 1, 1949 photo by Jack Birns

May 1, 1949 photo by Jack Birns
from Google Arts & Culture

May 1, 1949 photo by Jack Birns
from Getty Time-Life

1963 photos from Mikhail Mandrigin