ODIGITRIA CATHEDRAL

It is considered to be one of the most remarkable Siberian Baroque styles of the ^second half of the 17th century. Located in the historic centre, it is the first stone building in Ulan Ude, whose construction was started thanks to donations. Its construction began in 1741 and took 44 years. In 1700, on the present site, a small church was erected in honour of the Virgin of Vladimir. The cathedral was named after the icon of the Virgin Mary Odigitria, considered the patron saint of honest traders and travellers. During the Soviet period, the Presidium of the Executive Committee of the Republic decided to close the Cathedral under the pretext of the poor condition of the building due to the numerous cracks after the rather frequent earthquakes. All its property was confiscated, the icons were destroyed or stolen, the bells were removed and the building was turned into a warehouse... The last priest who officiated there was executed in 1930. Until the 1960s, the building was used as a school building, then as an ethnographic museum. In 1960 the building received the status of architectural heritage to be protected and subsequently restored. On 31 March 1992, the Orthodox parish was relocated there. On 23 May 1996, six bells were installed in the bell tower and the golden cross overhanging them was erected. Restored at the beginning of the 2000s, young and old alike now have the opportunity to attend religious education classes at the Sunday school organized by volunteers.