The cathedral of St. Hedwig was built by Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. The king's friend, Ignatius Krasicki, Prince-Bishop of Ermeland (later Archbishop of Gnesen), officiated at the opening of the cathedral in 1773. The church was named after the patron saint of Silesia and Brandenburg, St. Hedwig of Andechs, and commemorated the arrival of Catholic Silesians immigrating to Brandenburg and Berlin.