Russian attack damages UOC-MP monastery building in Odesa

Explosions damaged the monastery's utility buildings and greenhouse.

"Several dozen Shahed drones struck nearby, sparking a fire. The monastery buildings sustained severe damage, with many windows and doors blown out. There were also casualties: a seminary student was hospitalized with shrapnel wounds. Three monastery mentors were also injured. We condemn this and cannot comprehend all these events. We believe that those responsible for these shameful acts will be held accountable," said Archimandrite Isaia, the monastery's dean.

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The Holy Dormition Monastery in Odesa was founded in 1814. Initially, a small wooden church was built, later replaced by a stone double-altar cathedral. The main altar of the cathedral was dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Significant construction work at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) monastery was carried out in the late 1990s and 2000s under Metropolitan Agafangel (Savvin) of Odesa and Izmail. This included the construction of a gate bell tower, the laying and consecration in 1998 of a cathedral east of the Dormition Church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Life-Giving Spring," and the construction of a large hotel building in 2012.

As was previously reported, three people were injured in the Odesa region as a result of a Russian strike drone attack overnight into Wednesday, January 28.