In magnificent Uzhgorod, whose architectural scenery makes you breathless, religious sights occupy a special place. Krestovozdvizhensky Cathedral is one of the most invaluable such sights, since its foundation it has become the spiritual home of the city’s residents.
The cathedral is called the architectural treasure of Uzhgorod, its main Christian temple. And believing people consider it the heart of the city — and the temple is really located in the very center of the old part of Uzhgorod. For more than 370 years of its existence, its external and internal appearance has changed many times, but at all times Uzhgorod residents have supported and cared for the main spiritual monastery.
Uzhgorod owes the appearance of the magnificent cathedral to Count Janos Drooget, who ruled the city in the early XVII century. In 1640, he invited Jesuit monks to the city and gave them permission for extensive work on the Castle Hill. The construction was completed in 1646 — a small Roman Catholic church was built as a cathedral for the Jesuit monastery and in this form it existed for more than a century. Only after 1773 after the liquidation of the Jesuit monastic order the cathedral acquired a closer to the modern form. 
Then it was given by Empress Maria Theresia to the Greek Catholic diocese. Under the leadership of Bishop A. Baczynski, the church was rebuilt according to the Eastern rite as a Baroque cathedral, a chapel of the Virgin Mary was also erected, and upon completion of all works, a memorial plaque was placed under the portal, on which the history of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Uzhgorod was recorded in Latin.
Tall, bright from outside and inside, monumental, but at the same time light and graceful cathedral decorated the very heart of Uzhgorod. It is impossible to pass by and not notice it. The interesting architectural solution of the facade, made in the form of a portico with four columns, to which a two-sided red marble staircase leads, and two symmetrical three-tiered domes with Viennese chimes facing the entrance to the cathedral, make the temple peculiar and memorable. Both domes also act as bell towers: the one to the left of the entrance to the temple has a gigantic bell «Ivan» weighing one ton, and the right one has an even more enormous bell weighing three tons.
The work on the interior decoration of the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross, as well as the architectural plans of the temple as a whole, was done by Zakarpattia and Uzhgorod craftsmen. Colorful, rich and skillful painting inside the cathedral in the late Baroque style, which can be seen in it today, was done already in the early XX century by artist J. Bokshay. However, fragments of the XVIII century painting have also been partially preserved.
Now the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross is almost four centuries old. Its walls remember many things. From 1949 to 1991 it belonged to the Orthodox community, to which it was transferred by the Soviet authorities. But after Ukraine gained its independence, everything fell into place. Today, as centuries ago, in this attraction of Uzhgorod spiritual rites are performed according to the Greek-Catholic custom. Nowadays, as many years ago, the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross still adorns the very heart of the city, and, as many believers believe, is a huge part of its soul. Anyone can experience the incredible atmosphere of this landmark of Ukraine — you just need to come here.