The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and its winged beautiful inhabitants (11 photos + 1 video)

Birds and the sky. They definitely have something in common. And the sky, both as a physical phenomenon and as an infinite continuation of the Universe above it, is present in almost all religions.





Perhaps this is the reason why the New York Cathedral decided to comfortably accommodate three peacocks.



Locals who drop by the Church of St. John the Divine in New York City have long known to look out for its most glamorous patrons: three peacocks. Harry, Jim, and Phil, named after previous heads of the church, are beloved members of the congregation. Phil, the white peacock, even has his own social media account.





But what the birds didn't have was a fancy home to match their style. Until 2017, when the cathedral gave the peacocks a new home.



The peacocks' previous home was a decrepit plywood structure that looked pathetic next to such beautiful creatures. In 2014, a competition was launched to design a new home for the royal birds. The winning design was officially opened during a blessing ceremony.



After that, Harry, Jim and Phil moved into their own home, built and equipped with the latest technology, with pointed arches and windows that pay homage to the Gothic architecture of the cathedral. The walls are lightweight, but insulated enough to keep the peacocks warm at night.



The three birds arrived on the cathedral grounds in the early 2000s. Visitors could see the birds strutting around the gardens, their plumage flashing. People passing by could even hear them calling.



The cathedral, famous for its annual "Blessing of the Animals," has been home to peacocks since the 1980s. Its gardens are also home to the city's honeybee sanctuary.



In January 2023, the peacocks left their post at the cathedral. The church held a celebration for Harry, Jim, and Phil, after which the birds went to their new home, a nonprofit animal sanctuary in South Salem, New York. The busy cathedral grounds were not the best environment for the older birds. It is unknown if a new replacement will come and take over the vacant place on the cathedral grounds.