Dutch Foreign Minister visits Transfiguration Cathedral of UOC in Odesa

The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs at the UOC cathedral in Odesa, damaged by Russian shelling. Photo: screenshot of the video from the Odesa Eparchy's Facebook page

On July 8, 2024, the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Kaspar Veldkamp, and the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ukraine, Johannes de Mol, visited the Transfiguration Cathedral of the UOC in Odesa. This was reported by the Odesa Eparchy.

The diplomats were accompanied by the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Andriy Kostin.

Archpriest Myroslav Vdovych, an assistant to the rector of the cathedral, spoke about the history and holy relics of the ancient church and showed the progress of the restoration work after the tragedy of July 23, 2023, when a rocket hit the church during Russian shelling of the city.

The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that he had seen footage of the destroyed shrine online and wanted to visit the site of the tragedy in person. Kaspar Veldkamp wished the Orthodox residents of Odesa a swift restoration of the city's main shrine and assured support for all Ukrainians.

A priest of the UOC conveyed gratitude from the ruling hierarch, Metropolitan Agafangel, for the visit and gave his blessing for Veldkamp's efforts in his new position.

A special fund was created for the restoration of the destroyed cathedral. The press service of the Odesa Eparchy published the account details and called on all concerned individuals to join in the fundraising efforts.

As previously reported by UOJ, the ambassadors of Austria and Switzerland visited the Transfiguration Cathedral of the UOC in Odesa.

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