In Odesa, the symbolic laying of the first bricks occurred in the walls of the southeastern part of the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral, which was struck by a Russian missile on the night of July 23, 2023.
This was reported by the Odesa City Council on Telegram, as per Ukrinform.
"The symbolic laying of the first bricks took place today in the walls of the southern-eastern part of the cathedral, currently undergoing restoration following the Russian missile strike," the statement conveyed.
It is worth noting that on the previous day, collapsed structures were cleared from both basement floors, the southern wall of the main altar was reinforced, and damaged sections of masonry and inter-basement ceilings were stabilized.
It is recalled that on the night of July 23, 2023, Russian troops launched an attack on the Odesa region. Invaders fired 19 missiles of various types, targeting the historical center of Odesa, listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This resulted in damage to 25 architectural monuments, including the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral. The cathedral lost half of its roof, with central pillars and foundations damaged, all windows shattered, and the plaster dislodged. Despite this, rescuers and clergy managed to salvage some icons, including the Kaspariv icon of the Mother of God, revered as the patroness of Odesa. Additionally, the Iverskaya icon, painted for Odesa's 100th anniversary, survived.
In August, the office of Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgi Meloni, announced Italy's intention to contribute to the restoration efforts of the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral, bombed by the Russian army.
On October 2, 2023, Ukraine and Italy signed an agreement to renovate the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral. According to Italy's Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, the cathedral's restoration will be entrusted to the best Italian architects.
In November, heavy rains flooded the cathedral, prompting urgent conservation work by the Odesa Diocese of the UOC-MP, the cathedral's owner. By March 2024, the central part of the cathedral's roof had been restored.