Odesa - Transfiguration Cathedral and the Orthodox Schism

On July 23, 2023, the world, including Christians across America, was shocked and horrified when a Russian missile attack severely damaged the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa, one of the most iconic landmarks of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa - Wikipedia

This cathedral was a key reason for my visit to Odesa. I wanted to witness the rebuilding process, understand how the congregation had been affected, and, if possible, conduct an interview for our new film Beyond Bucha. Thankfully, I was able to achieve all three goals, while also gaining insight into the ongoing complexities within Ukraine’s Orthodox churches and their split from Russian Orthodoxy. Note that the interview will be in the finished film but not in the short video included here.

During my time in Ukraine, I’ve had the opportunity to interview many Orthodox priests. The most recent took place inside the Transfiguration Cathedral on Sunday, October 13th. The priest had just delivered a sermon in Russian to fewer than 100 people. It quickly became clear that both he and the church identified more with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) than with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

For someone like me, who speaks neither Ukrainian nor Russian, the liturgies are largely indistinguishable. However, for my translator Sasha and his mother, the differences were striking, especially during the interview. Sasha and his mother were disappointed with the priest’s perspective. Just a few days earlier, we had interviewed an OCU priest who has fully rejected any former Russian ties.

​The Russian-speaking priest at the cathedral explained that the church has been part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) since the 1990s, but the situation is more nuanced than it seems. Membership in the UOC does not equate to alignment with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU); for instance, the UOC is comfortable displaying a portrait of Moscow’s Patriarch Kirill at the cathedral's entrance. For a deeper understanding of the history of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, I suggest referencing this source: Orthodox Church of Ukraine – Britannica.

​I was pleased to find the cathedral open during my initial visit on October 11th. That day, I was treated to a beautiful flute recital by the Sunrise Ensemble of Odesa, performing "Confession" by Ukrainian composer Oksana Gerasimenko in front of the church. We recorded the recital and used it as a backdrop in the short video tour of the cathedral. Inside, the reconstruction is ongoing, with debris still piled up. However, the ceilings and domes have been covered, and there is hope the work will be completed in a few years. We were granted full access to the church, even exploring the crypt, and conducted our interview in the middle of the nave. All of which will be included in the final documentary.

So, how can one tell when they are in a Russian-leaning Orthodox Church in Ukraine? Several signs stood out:

1. Language: The liturgy and the interview were conducted in Russian, and the priest showed no hesitation about this. While there are many places in Ukraine where Russian is spoken, it’s not something one expects in a Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The priest downplayed the significance of language, saying it didn’t matter what language the liturgy was conducted in.

2. Perceived Persecution: This was the first time a Ukrainian pastor or cleric I interviewed said there was persecution of Christians in Ukraine. Priests aligned with Moscow have faced charges of espionage, promoting Russian propaganda, inciting religious hatred, and justifying Russia's aggression. For a high-profile case, see Senior ROC priest hospitalized after court hearing / The New Voice of Ukraine. Despite these tensions, there was no sign of persecution at the service we attended. The church was open, services continued, and the priest was more than willing to speak with us. He seemed more embarrassed about his limited English than about speaking Russian.

3. Portrait of Kirill: The clearest sign of the church’s Russian alignment was a large portrait of Patriarch Kirill at the entrance. Kirill, a staunch supporter of Putin, has framed the war in Ukraine as a holy mission to "de-satanize" the country. Seeing his image prominently displayed was a shock, especially given his role in providing religious cover for Russia’s aggression.

​Unsurprisingly, attendance has declined at this Cathedral since the full-scale invasion in 2022. The schism within the Orthodox Church in Ukraine is ongoing, and the divisions run deep. While the rebuilding of the cathedral progresses, the spiritual and political fractures within the church are complex and evolving.