The Dormition Cathedral in Kyiv, one of Eastern Orthodoxy's holiest sites, has survived a Russian strike that left its roof ablaze. Bishop Avraamiy, who oversees the cathedral, formed a rescue team to save what they could from inside the burning building.
The cathedral, which has been damaged by the Mongols, occupied by the Nazis, and blown up by the Soviets, has been a target for Russia, which claims it as part of its own religious and cultural heritage.
Avraamiy, clad in a black cassock, coordinated with firefighters, police, and Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko to rescue Ukrainian religious heritage. The team worked tirelessly to save objects from the cathedral, including the reliquary of St. Stephen, a silver case said to contain his finger.
Firefighters, donning additional equipment to protect themselves from the intense heat and smoke, battled to douse the flames and prevent the cathedral from collapsing. The fire was eventually brought under control, and the damage was limited to the roof, windows, and walls.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the site and pledged government funding to restore the building. Workers are now patching up the roof to protect the building from rain, and the cathedral is expected to reopen its doors soon.
