Transfiguration of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Cathedral

Transfiguration of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Cathedral is a historic Russian Orthodox church at 228 North 12th Street, on the corner of Driggs Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City, USA. The congregation was established in 1908 by Eastern European immigrants, initially worshipping in a converted Methodist church on North 5th Street. Construction of the present cathedral began in 1916 under architect Louis Allmendiger, whose design was inspired by the Cathedral of the Dormition in the Moscow Kremlin. Completed in 1921 and consecrated on 3 September 1922, the yellow-brick building has a Greek-cross plan, arched windows and five copper-covered onion domes topped with Orthodox crosses. It was elevated to cathedral status in 1932, designated a New York City landmark in 1969 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Transfiguration of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Cathedral has appeared in The House on Carroll Street (1988), Seinfeld (1989–1998) and Elementary (2012–2019). The cathedral appears in the wedding sequence of The House on Carroll Street, while Seinfeld uses its exterior as a fictional Latvian Orthodox church in the episode The Conversion (1993), including the scene where Kramer runs towards the entrance. The building also appears in the Elementary episode Whatever Remains, However Improbable (2018).

In The House on Carroll Street (1988), directed by Peter Yates, the cathedral appears during a wedding sequence in a thriller set in New York in 1951. The film follows Emily Crane (Kelly McGillis), a former magazine employee who becomes involved in an investigation into a government-backed operation bringing former Nazi war criminals into the United States. The cathedral’s exterior forms part of the wedding location, where Emily and FBI agent Mike Cochran (Jeff Daniels) follow a group of newly arrived European immigrants. The gathering allows Emily to approach the men and recognise one of them as a person she previously encountered during her investigation. The church’s distinctive domes and traditional Russian Orthodox architecture form part of the film’s reconstruction of early-1950s Brooklyn.

In Seinfeld (1989–1998), Transfiguration of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Cathedral appears in the fifth-season episode The Conversion (1993), which originally aired on 16 December 1993. The cathedral represents a Latvian Orthodox church where George Costanza (Jason Alexander) decides to convert after discovering that his girlfriend Sasha (Jana Marie Hupp) cannot continue their relationship unless he belongs to her family’s religion. The building’s yellow-brick exterior, onion domes and arched entrance are visible in the establishing shots of the church. George meets the head priest (Kay E. Kuter) to discuss his conversion, showing considerably more enthusiasm for the prospect of keeping his girlfriend than for the religious teachings he is expected to learn.

The church becomes central to another storyline when Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) arrives to collect George and meets Sister Roberta (Molly Hagan), a novice preparing to take her final vows. She becomes irresistibly attracted to Kramer, prompting the worried priests to explain that he possesses the kavorka, described as an irresistible animal attraction. In an attempt to free himself from this supposed power, Kramer follows their instructions to cover himself with strong-smelling substances, including garlic and vinegar.

Towards the end of the episode, the cathedral returns during George’s conversion ceremony. A sign outside announces the service, while George walks down the aisle inside the church wearing a white ceremonial gown and carrying a candle. Meanwhile, Kramer discovers that the priests’ remedy has worked and hurries towards the cathedral, hoping to reach Sister Roberta before she abandons her religious calling. The sequence cuts between George’s ceremony and Kramer running along the street towards the church. The cathedral’s exterior and entrance steps appear as the approaching figure climbs the stairs, opens the doors and rushes inside.

There is an interesting continuity detail in the running sequence. The figure approaching the cathedral is filmed from behind and wears a dark head covering, making him appear to be a stand-in for Michael Richards. When the scene cuts to Kramer entering the church, the head covering has disappeared, and he is not carrying it. The difference is particularly noticeable when comparing the exterior approach with the interior footage. The cathedral itself was used for exterior photography in Brooklyn, while the scenes involving George, the priests and Sister Roberta inside the fictional Latvian Orthodox church were filmed on studio sets in Los Angeles.

In Elementary (2012–2019), the cathedral appears in the sixth-season finale, Whatever Remains, However Improbable (2018), directed by Christine Moore. Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) is investigating the murder of serial killer Michael Rowan (Desmond Harrington), whose death has placed his partner Joan Watson (Lucy Liu) under suspicion. After examining the stitches on Rowan’s body, Holmes suspects that someone with military medical experience treated the killer shortly before his death.

The investigation leads Sherlock to Denny Mulgrew (Dan Butler), a Vietnam War veteran and recovering addict whom he recognises from support-group meetings. The cathedral is used for the church setting associated with their encounter, where Holmes approaches Mulgrew as a meeting is about to begin. Sherlock questions him about his former medical training and his collection of military equipment, eventually confronting him about having treated Rowan’s injuries. The conversation takes place as Mulgrew prepares to attend the meeting, allowing Holmes to question him before the two leave to continue their discussion.

Seinfeld (1989–1998)

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