St. John the Divine
Photo Courtesy of St. John the Divine

The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine on Amsterdam Avenue is not only one of the oldest buildings in Morningside Heights but also one of the most fascinating. The historic cathedral has many secrets, from a gold triptych by Keith Haring to a very unusual sculpture featuring the Archangel Michael, the decapitated head of Satan, and nine giraffes. Here are ten secrets of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine!

Vertical Tour of St. John the Divine

St. John the Divine

You can join us to uncover more on an Untapped New York Insiders Vertical tour of St. John the Divine on September 2nd or 6th! This exclusive tour will feature a stop at the Guastavino staircase, a feature you won’t see on any other tour of the cathedral. Tickets are $20 for Untapped New York Insiders. Not an Insider yet? Become a member today and get your first month free with code JOINUS.

1. The Keith Haring Triptych 

Keith Haring Triptych at St. John the Divine

“The Life of Christ” was Keith Haring’s last work before his death. He passed away just weeks after this work was complete. There are nine versions of this triptych, cast in bronze and covered in white gold, one of which is located at St. John the Divine. Another version can be seen in Paris at Saint Eustache, which we covered in our NYC vs Paris series, and another is located in Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. The three panels represent the life of Jesus Christ, his resurrection, and a fallen angel.