‘Colossal destruction’: ROC reveals destruction of Odesa’s Transfiguration Cathedral in Russian strike
‘Colossal destruction’: ROC reveals destruction of Odesa’s Transfiguration Cathedral in Russian strike (Photo:REUTERS / Serhii Smolientsev)
The Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine (ROC) has reported the “colossal devastation” of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa, following a Russian missile attack on the city on the night of July 23.
The church’s central altar suffered a direct blow from a Russian missile, igniting a fire in the area, ROC’s Odesa eparchy reported on Telegram on July 23.
The resulting destruction leveled the first three floors, severely damaged interior decorations and icons, and obliterated the lower part of the cathedral entirely.
“The devastation is colossal, hitting the right side and penetrating to under the first floor. Half of the cathedral’s roof has been ripped off, the central columns and foundation have been compromised. All the windows and plasterwork have been shattered. There was a fire that affected the area where icons and candles are sold,” said Archdeacon Andriy Palchuk, a clergyman of ROC’s Odesa eparchy.
The Kasperska Icon of the Mother of God, the patron saint of Odesa, was successfully rescued from the burning cathedral, he noted.
The morning after the attack, the Odesa eparchy revealed the full extent of the destruction inside the cathedral.
Strongly condemning the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, the ROC in Odesa labeled the attack on the cathedral as a “terrorist act”.
Originally established in 1794, the Transfiguration Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in Odesa.
This is the second time a Russian dictator has destroyed the religious center. The cathedral was restored only in 2005, after being razed by Stalin. It was again destroyed on July 23 during a missile strike ordered by Putin.
As a result of the overnight attack in Odesa, one person died and 22 were hospitalized, while six residential buildings were damaged as the attack left missile craters across the city.
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