Austrian and Swiss ambassadors visit UOC Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa
Ambassadors of Austria and Switzerland in the UOC cathedral in Odesa, destroyed by Russian shelling. Photo: screenshot from the video on the Facebook page of the Odesa Eparchy
On July 1, 2024, the ambassadors of Austria and Switzerland to Ukraine, Arad Benkö and Felix Baumann, visited the Transfiguration Cathedral of the UOC in Odesa. According to the Odesa Eparchy, the diplomats were briefed on the progress of the restoration work following the tragedy of July 23, 2023, when a missile struck the cathedral during a Russian shelling of the city.
Assistant rector of the cathedral, Archpriest Myroslav Vdovych, spoke about the history and sacred relics of the ancient church.
The ambassadors wished the Orthodox residents of Odesa a swift recovery of the city's main holy site.
A special fund was established for the restoration of the destroyed cathedral. The press service of the Odesa Eparchy published the bank details and called on all concerned individuals to join in a fundraiser.
As previously reported, the Azerbaijani ambassador also visited the UOC cathedral in Odesa, which was destroyed by Russian shelling.
Read also
UOC Faithful Made a Pilgrimage to the Miraculous Kalinivka Cross
After the conclusion of the Liturgy, clergy and laity performed a solemn veneration of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord in Kalinivka.
UOC monks’ residence hinders tourism in Lavra, Ostapenko says
The Reserve’s director general complained about the UOC monks living in the Lavra and expressed hope that the enforcement service would evict them.
Georgian Parliament Speaker calls EU attacks on Church a “red line”
Shalva Papuashvili threatened a tough response to attempts to discredit the Georgian Church.
Analyst: Even Bolsheviks did not think of burying their heroes in Lavra
Bondarenko recalled that after nationalizing the Lavra, the Bolsheviks turned its churches into a museum of atheism, but did not bury their leaders in the monastery.
Fire erupts at 14th-century Gothic basilica in Bordeaux
A blaze that began in a migrant camp spread to the grounds of a historic basilica.
Lotysh: I called on Lavra monks to turn toward World Orthodoxy
Avraamiy Lotysh demanded that the brethren of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra show “courage” in transferring to the OCU.