Transfiguration Cathedral

The Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa is one of the largest church buildings not only in the city, but in Ukraine as well. However, the present building is a reconstruction of the old church, which was built in 1794 and destroyed in 1936 by decision of the authorities, who decided that the building had no architectural value.

Photo from www.sputnik8.com

The new Transfiguration Cathedral in the classical style was built entirely with funds from Odesa residents. It cost 32 million UAH. During construction, the height of the bell tower was increased. Today it reaches 77 m. The cathedral bells were made of bronze with the addition of silver. The largest of the 14 bells weighs 14 t.

Next to the cathedral stands a fountain, built with funds from the ophthalmologist V. P. Filatov. According to legend, he provided money for the fountain’s construction precisely at the place where the old church stood, so that people would not trample the holy site. After the cathedral was restored, the fountain was moved closer to Preobrazhenska Street.