Odessa Cathedrals. Orthodox Church

There were about 70 cathedrals before the revolution in Odessa. History of each cathedral is absolutely connected with the history of the city. For Soviet period lots of churches were destroyed, closed and reoriented in warehouses and fitness - centers and on many years ago, people in Odessa didn’t even imagined, that orthodox citizens prayed about health for their relatives and about well-being and prosperity of whole city in these city’s buildings.

Nowadays many of temples are being reconstructed and opened in Odessa and you might be witness of a revival and an inauguration of these temples.

Having visited the Uspenskaya church, founded in 1824, you can see the Theological Seminary, located near to it and being visited by more than 700 seminarists. Take an excursion to reconstructed in 1998 St. Mary-Magdalena’s church.

Arrived in Odessa city you will have an opportunity to view such temples as St. Nicolas’ church, St.Martyrs’ Andrew and Natalie church, Greek Church, All Saints church, St. Archangel’s Michael Female monastery, St. Panteleymon Monastery and other temples, monasteries and churches which can be seen in abundance in Odessa. It is said in Odessa:” Better one time to see, than hundred times to hear” So, there is only challenge for you- to visit our city and to view all this breathtaking beauty with your proper eyes.

The major religion in Odessa region is Christianity. The major church in Odessa is The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is an autonomous church of Eastern Orthodoxy in Ukraine, under the Patriarch of Moscow. The church is one of the two major rival Ukrainian Orthodox churches (the other being the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kiev Patriarchy) and is often referred to as Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchy.

Ukrainian exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church since October 27, 1990 the UOC-MP operates as an autonomous church (one step short of full autocephaly) and considers itself to be a Ukrainian exarch of the Moscow Patriarchy as well as the descendant of the Orthodox Church of Kiev and all Rus' in Ukraine, thus claiming a direct lineage to the original Baptism of Rus' by St. Vladimir (Volodymyr) in 988.

The Metropolitan Volodymyr ) is enthroned since 1992 (Viktor Sabodan) as the head of the UOC-MP under the title Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine. The UOC-MP is currently the only Ukrainian church to have canonical standing (legal recognition) in Eastern Orthodoxy world-wide, and operates in communion with the other Eastern Orthodox Churches. The official residency of Metropolitan Volodymyr is in Kiev, Kiev-Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves).