Blessing of the Animals

‘Blessing of the Animals’ draws a mixed-species crowd

Hundreds of Morningside Heights residents and their pets descended upon the cathedral at 113th Street and Amsterdam Avenue for the Blessing of the Animals—a custom in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment.

By Briana Last | Oct 3 12:43 am ET

VIDEO: The Blessing of the Animals

By Sam Levin and Paul Hsiao | Oct 6 12:05 pm ET

Cathedral hosts monkeys, yaks

Camels, tortoises, and reindeer paraded through St. John the Divine Cathedral Sunday morning in the annual event that transforms the largest Gothic cathedral in the world into a sacred zoo.

By Sam Levin and Paul Hsiao | Oct 4 10:27 pm ET

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