Church of St. Theodosius of Chernihiv, Chernihiv, Chernihiv oblast

From Religion on Fire
Church of St. Theodosius of Chernihiv
General information
Building typechurch
LocationChernihiv, Chernihiv Oblast
Religious affiliation*Orthodoxy (UOC MP)
Date of damage13 March 2022
Damage degreesevere
*as for moment of shelling

Secretary of the Chernihiv Diocese of the UOC (MP) Ihor Pydan reported to “Suspilne” that as a result of artillery shelling on March 13, 2022, the Church of St. Theodosius of Chernihiv and the cemetery “Yatseve” in the city of Chernihiv were damaged. At 11:15 am a call came to the rescue service. Rescuers were called, but they could not reach the place due to constant shelling of the territory. The shell hit the dome of the temple and it collapsed. The explosion of a shell inside the Church caused a fire and the destruction of the interior decoration. The royal gate and the throne were destroyed, icons, church books and a church relic - the Shroud of Christ - burned down. The bell tower was also destroyed, bells were broken, baths and crosses were burned.

According to Lilia Shulga, a candle holder, after that the Church was shelled more than once. Later, Russian troops entered the Church premises. This is evidenced by the traces of tanks and boxes from military meals.

On the parish's Facebook page, as of May 2, 2022, it was reported about the process of rebuilding the Church, and about the possibility to come and pray, submit memorial notes on the territory of the church and in its pretense.

As the field trip group found out during a monitoring visit in September 2022, restoration works have begun and are actively underway in the Church of Saint Theodosius, the church is gradually being restored. For example, the main dome was completely redesigned, due to which it now has a different image than it had before the war. The interior of the Church is in a state of restoration, the walls are whitewashed again, but there are no paintings on them.

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