St. Mary’s is one of the oldest and largest Orthodox congregations in the area and it holds a place of historical significance in the Orthodox Church in the United States.

We invite you to visit us during Art-A-Whirl 2008

	Friday, May 16, 2008	5:00 to 10:00 PM
	Saturday, May 17, 2008	12:00 to 8:00 PM
	Sunday, May 18, 2008	12:00 to 5:00 PM
	Parking available in Church lots – Trolley stop for Art-A-Whirl

• View the beautiful Icons and the architecture
• Watch ongoing iconography demonstrations
• Enjoy the authentic Russian music of St. Mary’s Balalaika Orchestra at 2:00 pm Saturday & Sunday
  
• Hear the St. Mary’s Cathedral Choir at 5:15 – 5:45 pm Saturday.  The choir was formally organized in 1927, but traces its roots back to 1891. The mixed-voice ensemble sings a wide variety of music from the regional chants of multiple Slavic peoples to the masterworks of the Russian choral repertoire. The 30-minute concert will include traditional Easter hymns, local favorites, and music by Rachmaninov, Bortniansky, and Kedrov.
• Taste – after touring our beautiful Cathedral, come and enjoy Samovar tea and Russian tea cakes at the “Russian Tea House” located on the southwest corner of the Cathedral lawn – open, rain or shine. during the entire run of Art-A-Whirl in a covered area.

Art-A-Whirl is an annual event, held the 3rd weekend in May, of an open-studio and gallery tour of the art being produced in Northeast Minneapolis. As visitors come to see the art, they also experience the NE Community. More than 300 artists participate in AAW, including potters, tile makers, painters, sculptors, musicians, photographers, glass blowers, printmakers, and textile designers. They showcase their art in warehouses, homes, storefronts and cafes.

St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral is located in the exact center of the geographical area known as the Northeast Minneapolis Artist District. Rather than opening their individual studios to the over 20,000 visitors that participate in Art-A-Whirl each year, some area artists within the Cathedral decided to open the Cathedral to the public to view the very beautiful art within the Cathedral. Each year draws over 300 people to view the iconography and architecture of St. Mary's Cathedral.