Description of the attraction
The Transfiguration Cathedral is an Orthodox church located in Lublin. The cathedral was built in 1607-1633 on the site of a previously existing Orthodox church.
It was not possible to establish the date of the appearance of the first Orthodox church in the city, but it is known that the Orthodox community of the Transfiguration of the Lord was founded in 1586, after which the construction of the first church began. Unfortunately, almost immediately after the grand opening, the temple was completely destroyed by fire. In 1607, the Orthodox brotherhood decided to build a new stone church. Construction work dragged on for a long 26 years, caused by frequent religious conflicts in Lublin. In 1633, Vladislav IV Vasa was elected king, who confirmed the right of the Orthodox community to own the church in Lublin. The king helped the community, confirmed a number of important privileges, including excluding the church from the jurisdiction of the Uniates. In the same year, on March 15, Metropolitan Peter Mogila consecrated the Transfiguration Cathedral. Despite the statement of Vladislav IV, already in 1635 the temple was again captured by the Uniates.
After the suppression of the January Uprising by the Russian authorities, the gradual liquidation of Uniatism began, and all Latin religious elements were removed from the church in Lublin. After May 1875, when the Uniates in Lublin were liquidated, the Transfiguration Cathedral was returned to the Orthodox parishioners, who at that time numbered 80 people in the city.
During the First World War, all valuable icons were taken from the church to Moscow, which never returned to Lublin. After the restoration of Polish independence, they wanted to close the cathedral, however, later this idea was abandoned. During the Second World War, the cathedral continued its work.
In February 1960, the Transfiguration Cathedral was included in the register of monuments in Poland.
