Diocese of Steubenville leaders will hold a ceremony Friday afternoon to bless the cornerstone of a new cathedral.

The $9 million Triumph of the Cross Cathedral will be located in front of Catholic Central High School and across from Holy Rosary Church.

Six of eight Steubenville parishes will close when the new cathedral opens in September 2008. Church leaders said the cathedral will become the place of worship to nearly 2,000 Steubenville-area families.

The new cathedral will be a cruciform-shaped building, meaning it will look like a cross from an aerial view. Some items like windows, bells and icons will come from the closing parishes.

Some of the cost will be covered by the Steubenville Diocese; another portion will come from the new congregation; and half of it will be raised through a fundraising campaign.

The blessing of the cornerstone is scheduled for 4 p.m. Stay with NEWS9 and WTOV9.com for continuing coverage.

-Renee Cardelli & Dino Orsatti, NEWS9