If you rise above Cherkassy and take a bird’s eye view, you can see an incredible riot of greenery, which always pleases the eye. And among this lively attire you will see the beautiful gilded domes of the Svyato-Mikhailovsky Cathedral, which delight the soul. The cathedral mesmerizes with its majesty, as well as the height of its structure. Everyone who comes close to the house of God, involuntarily raises his gaze to the sky. At such moments, everything inside you is filled with bliss and makes you think of something light and good.
The courtyard of the temple is clean and well-maintained. Here you can sit down in a gazebo to reflect on existence. Next to the gazebo is a monument to a monk kneeling by a broken bell. A little further away is a small park where you can relax in the shade of the trees.
A small park is located in the center of the gazebo.
The interior of the Cathedral leaves an unforgettable impression. Painted walls and ceilings, light coming through the windows in the upper tier of the cathedral create a beautiful illusion of majestic radiance.
St. Michael’s Cathedral energizes its visitors with positive energy, a huge charge of vigor and good mood, and also makes you think and feel a rush of emotions even in non-believers who have visited it at least once. And all this is the merit of the rector of the temple Vladyka Safroniy (in the world Dmitry Dmitruk), who put good thoughts and all his soul into the construction of the cathedral. The initiative and the project belonged to Vladyka. In his youth he worked on a construction site, and during his ministry he built the famous Holy Protection Church in Borispol. Vladyka Safroniy chose his monastic name at his tonsure in honor of St. Safroniy of Irkutsk. In 1992 he became a bishop and headed the newly created Cherkassy diocese of the UOC-MP.
With no architectural education «but relying on God and common sense» (and on the city architect who signed the project) Vladyka built the largest cathedral, which has no equal in Ukraine. Its height is 72 meters, length 58 meters, and width 53 meters. But the construction is not finished yet, a 102-meter bell tower is planned. This is the size of the cathedral will rise above St. Sophia of Kiev, the height of the bell tower of which is 96 meters.
Money for the construction, which began in 1994, was collected by the whole world and the building was erected actually only on donations. The archbishop notes that «the cathedral, which has no equal in Ukraine, turned out to be the cheapest in the history of church building.» It was built without the participation of design organizations, and the money for the golden domes was allocated by former Kiev mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko. The building itself was built in 6 years, of which 2 years were spent on finishing works.
August 9, 2002 in Pervomaysky Park of Cherkassy was consecrated the Cathedral in honor of the Holy Archangel of God Michael of the UOC (Moscow Patriarchate). On the territory where it is located, there used to be Soboro-Nikolayevskoye cemetery and two Orthodox churches, which were destroyed under the Soviet regime.
Five Orthodox metropolitans and 20 bishops from Ukraine, Russia, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Belarus, as well as many parishioners, came to the solemn ceremony of consecration of the temple.
The ceremony was attended by five Orthodox metropolitans and 20 bishops from Ukraine, Russia, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Belarus.
We advise everyone to visit this cathedral, filled with positive energy and peace of mind. Rest assured, visiting this place, you will be filled with strength of spirit, good mood and bright mind.
The Cathedral of Shcherbina.