St. Vibiana's Cathedral

Located at 114 E. 2nd Street in downtown Los Angeles, this cathedral was completed in 1877 and was the first Cathedral for the Diocese of Monterrey and Los Angeles. Extensive renovation began in 1922 when the diocese split and St. Vibiana's became the seat of the new Archdiocese of Los Angeles and San Diego.

Encased in a marble sarcophagus within the sanctuary are the relics of St. Vibiana, a fourth century Christian martyr. Vibiana was imprisoned in a madhouse when she refused to become a prostitute and was eventually flogged to death. Today she is the patron saint of the tortured and insane.

The rectory houses a number of visiting priests and scholars, as well as the male staff of the Cathedral. Female staff and nuns are housed at Our Lady of the Angels, which is located across the street from St. Vibiana's.

Historical documents and other research materials are stored at St. Vibiana's. While the rectory houses a small library for study, in 1924 plans were undertaken to design and construct a research library on the grounds. A vault in the rectory holds numerous uncatalogued documents and correspondence of the Church in California dating back to the mission era.