St. Vibiana's today
The cathedral's neighborhood today
St. Vibiana's in 1880
St. Vibiana's in 1885
Interior of St. Vibiana's, 1945
Altar in St. Vibiana's, 1940
Plans for a cathedral for Los Angeles began as early as 1859. Using land donated to the Church by Amiel Cavalier, architect Ezra Kysor designed the building. The cathedral was dedicated in 1876; four years and $80,000 later St. Vibiana's was completed.
Pope Pius IX chose the Cathedral's name, selecting St. Vibiana, a 3rd century martyr whose remains had been buried in the Roman catacombs. Since cathedrals traditionally contain the relics of a saint, the remains of Vibiana are now in a gilt and plate glass sarcophagus located in a niche above the high altar.
The interior was remodeled about 1895, using onyx and marble. The exterior facade of the building was changed 1922-24 to give it its present look, said to be based on a Roman design.
During the 1940s a school was added, but this was closed during the mid 1960s because the parish could not afford it. The building is now used as a convent by the Disciples of the Divine Master, while the basement is used for Masses.
Plans for a new $50 million cathedral complex have polarized the Catholic community. Attempts to raze St. Vibiana's resulted in court injunctions delaying the demolition, but an architect has been hired to design a new cathedral, and the building has been removed from the city's landmarks list. The real question now seems to be whether a new cathedral will be built on the present site, incorporating the old with the new, or a completely new site (possibly in the San Fernando Valley) will be chosen for the Archdiocesan headquarters.
