SAD
Cathedral of the Transfiguration is an imposing structure build almost 40 yrs ago by Steven Roman, local mining magnate . Mr. Roman, who arrived in Canada in 1937 from his native Slovakia, donated the land for the Cathedral, which he built as a beacon of religious freedom for his fellow Slavs then living under the repressive dominance of the former Soviet Union, without religious freedom. Construction of the cathedral began in early 1984, and the cornerstone and altar stone were blessed by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Canada in September 1984, marking the first time that a Roman Pontiff consecrated a church in North America. Václav Havel, the first president of a democratic Czechoslovakia, following the fall of the Communist regime, visited the Cathedral in 1990.
No expense was spared – It’s built with granite and marble, real gold gilded towers, it contains the world's largest peal of three bells, cast in bronze at the foundry of Paccard S.A. in the French town of Annecy. Real Casavant concert organ. Casavant Frères is a world-renowned Quebec company that has produced more than 3,000 organs since its founding in 1879. Floor Mosaics were installed by Travisanutto Mosaics of northern Italy. Etc, etc, etc.
But…it sits almost abandoned due to dispute between the Slovak Greek Church Foundation and the Eparchy for Catholic Slovaks of the Byzantine Rite in Canada led to the closure of the building in 2006. An application for public occupancy was filed with the City of Markham.
Once a public occupancy permit is granted, the Cathedral will be able to permanently open its doors to any Catholic congregation wishing to worship there. It will also be able to host concerts and other public events.