Description of the attraction
Zhytomyr St. Michael's Cathedral is a temple of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the city of Zhytomyr. The cathedral is an architectural monument of local importance.
The cathedral was erected in 1856 at the expense of the local merchant Mikhail Khabotin, according to whose plan the newly erected temple was not supposed to obey either secular or local spiritual authorities. The philanthropist had been trying to get his way for sixteen years, until the authorities offered to buy him a land plot at the intersection of Piliponovskaya and Kievskaya streets. A huge amount was spent on the construction of the cathedral. But despite all the financial troubles, the benefactor made his dream come true, and already in 1856 St. Michael's Cathedral was consecrated. After the death of M. Khabotin, he was buried under the altar of the temple. In Soviet times, the remains of the patron were barbarously dug up, and their further fate is unknown. S. Richter was baptized in St. Michael's Cathedral.
After the October Revolution and until 1927, the cathedral functioned as the church of the Ukrainian autocephalous Orthodox community. After a while, the temple was closed for a long period, after which its building was used for other purposes. During the Second World War, the church was returned to the believers, and it remained in operation until 1960. After that, the temple was partially converted into office premises. It also housed the Knowledge Society and a puppet theater.
In November 1991, the premises of the cathedral were returned to the religious community of the UOC-KP, and services were resumed. After the formation of the Zhytomyr-Ovrutsk diocese of the UOC-KP, the temple received the status of a cathedral. In 2007, restoration work began in the church. Since the foundation of the temple, two fragments of icon painting have survived on its walls, which was made in the 19th century.
Today at the St. Michael's Cathedral there is a spiritual children's Sunday school and a library.
