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[[Image:Saint Sophia - Harbin, China.jpg|right|thumb|230px|The Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom of God in [[w:Harbin|Harbin]], China. Built in 1907, expanded from 1923-32, it was closed during the [[w:Great Leap Forward|Great Leap Forward]] and [[w:Cultural Revolution|Cultural Revolution]] period, and recently turned into a museum in 1997.]]
[[Image:Saint Sophia1 - Harbin, China.jpg|right|thumb|230px|The Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom of God in [[w:Harbin|Harbin]], China.]]
[[Image:Saint Sophia (Dome) - Harbin, China.jpg|right|thumb|230px|Interior of dome of the Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom of God in [[w:Harbin|Harbin]], China.]]
The '''Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom of God''' or ''Saint Sophia Cathedral in Harbin'' <br>(Chinese: 聖索菲亜教堂, Russian: Софийский собор в Харбине) is a former Russian Orthodox church located in the central district of [[w:Daoli District|Daoli]], [[w:Harbin City|Harbin City]], Heilongjiang Province, China.
St. Sophia Orthodox Cathedral is one of the most magnificent structures in Harbin. It was built in 1907 after the completion of the [[w:Trans-Siberian Railway|Trans-Siberian Railway]] in 1903, which connected [[w:Vladivostok|Vladivostok]] to northeast China. The Russian No.4 Army Division arrived in this region just after Russia's embarrassing loss to the Japanese in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). St. Sophia Church was built and completed in 1907 as a spiritual symbol to help the army regain confidence. It was expanded and renovated in from 1923 to 1932 into the present day St. Sophia Church.
This church stands at 53 meters tall and is the perfect example of [[Neo-Byzantine architecture]]. The main structure is laid out like a cross with the main hall topped with a huge green tipped roof. Under the bright sun, the church and the square area it lies on looks quite like the Red Square in Moscow.
