Nikolai-do Holy Resurrection Cathedral

The official name of Nicholai-do is the Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Tokyo. Since Saint Nicholas, the Equal to the Apostles (a title given to saints in the Orthodox Church), founded this church to spread the Orthodox faith from Russia to Japan, it became known as Nicholai-do. The Orthodox Church has its organizations in various countries and has the Orthodox Church in Japan (Nihon Haristos Seikyokai), as well, but Nikolai-do plays the central role among the 60 churches throughout Japan. The architectural style is Byzantine with thick walls, small windows, and a dome at the center. Many Orthodox Christians come every day, regarding Nicholai-do as an essential house of prayer for all occasions in their lifetime: baptism, Divine Liturgy (a ritual of the Eastern Orthodox Church), daily prayers, weddings, funerals, and more. It is a two-minute walk from the Hijiribashi Exit of the Ochanomizu Station on the JR (Japan Railways) Chuo Line.