Cardinal Parolin visits the UOC Cathedral in Odesa damaged by Russia
Cardinal Parolin in the Odesa Cathedral of the UOC. Photo: Oleh Kiper
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin visited the Odesa region and inspected the Transfiguration Cathedral of the UOC, destroyed as a result of the Russian attack, reports the head of the regional military administration Oleh Kiper.
With the blessing of Metropolitan Agafangel of Odesa and Izmail, Archbishop Viktor of Artsyzsk, together with Archpriest Myroslav, assistant rector of the cathedral, gave the distinguished guests exact copies of the Kasper Icon of the Mother of God and a facsimile edition of the Peresopnytsia Gospel.
The Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, expressed gratitude for the meeting, the gifts from Metropolitan Agafangel and wished for the speedy restoration of the Transfiguration Cathedral.
“I hope that this visit, as well as previous ones, for example, the trip of Cardinal Zuppi (Italian prelate of the Catholic Church, Archbishop of Bologna – Ed.), can make a small contribution to the creation of a peaceful path in this land. So once again I express my sincere gratitude to you. I wish you fortitude; in these difficult times we are by your side and share your pain, your hope,” he said after his visit to the UOC Cathedral.
This is the first visit of the Secretary of State of the Holy See to Ukraine since the outbreak of the war.
Before Odesa, Cardinal Pietro Parolin visited Lviv. Today he is participating in the RCC's ceremonial events in Berdychiv, Zhytomyr region.
As reported by the UOJ, Cardinal Parolin stated in Ukraine that he will discuss peace with Zelensky.
Read also
DESS head: Revival of Judaism in Ukraine is a true miracle
Viktor Yelensky opened a school for Jewish boys in Anativka.
Metropolitan Onuphry shares how Saint Nicholas leads people to faith
In his sermon on the Feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas, the Primate of the UOC gave an example of a Soviet family that turned to the saint in despair and found faith.
Priest of Pokrovsk Vicariate of UOC killed in Kostiantynivka shelling
Archpriest Valeriy Voskresensky consciously remained at his parish in the Donetsk region, despite the constant threat of shelling.
Verkhovna Rada to consider bill on pornography decriminalization
The bill on decriminalizing pornography proposes to remove criminal liability for the production and distribution of pornography between adults.
Metropolitan Onuphry leads Liturgy at Intercession Monastery of Kyiv
On the Feast of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Primate of the UOC celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Saint Nicholas's Cathedral of the Intercession Monastery and offered prayers for peace in the Ukrainian land.
Persecuted community of Verkhni Stanivtsi celebrates archpastoral Liturgy
For the second year in a row, the parishioners have been celebrating their patronal feast day outside the walls of their church, which was seized by OCU supporters with police backing in April 2025.