Ukraine: Russians shell oldest church in Kherson

Russian troops struck the territory of the Greek-Sophia Church in Kherson. As a result, the wooden cells caught fire and burned to the ground. Ihor Tsurkan, executive director of the Kherson League of Social Workers, reported on the consequences of the shelling on July 20, publishing photos from the scene. The photos show shattered windows, charred walls, and a destroyed roof of a building located on the church grounds.

According to the Oles Honchar Kherson Regional Scientific Library, the Greek-Sophia Church is one of the oldest religious buildings in Kherson, reports intent.press. At the end of the 18th century, Greeks living in Crimea appealed to Catherine II to allow them to join her realm. They were permitted to relocate to what is now modern-day Ukraine, where they established the city of Mariupol.

Some Greeks who settled in Kherson actively contributed to the construction and development of the city. The merchant district in central Kherson was known as the Greek quarter, as it was home to many Greek merchants. In 1780, the Greek-Sophia Church, a notable architectural monument from the 18th century, was built and consecrated. Originally a wooden structure, the church was later replaced with a stone building. The historic iconostasis, crafted from black wood by Greek artisans, has survived to this day, though it now faces threats to its preservation. (Quelle: www.risu.ua, 21. Juli 2025)