Roman-Catholic Cathedral Church of Assumption of Our Lady, Odessa (must see)

In the heart of Odessa stands the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral, a striking Roman-Catholic church constructed between 1844 and 1853. Designed by Polish architect Feliks Gąsiorowski with the assistance of Italian architect Francesco Morandi, it was commissioned by the city’s Polish and German Catholic communities. The building follows a cruciform plan, with three aisles and a central dome crowning the space.

Its exterior, modest yet grand in scale, gives way inside to a rare combination of fine materials and devotional art. White and grey marble line the interior surfaces, lending a cool elegance to the nave and side aisles. At the main altar, a painting of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary—completed in 1850—is displayed, a respectful copy of a work by Raphael. Large crystal chandeliers and other ecclesiastical artworks add to a contemplative atmosphere of devotion and grandeur.

Beyond its architectural and artistic features, the cathedral occupies a broader community role. Adjacent to the church, one finds premises that originally served as an orphanage, a nursing home, a Catholic school and a children’s shelter. In 2022, a significant event took place here when a decree by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments granted a pontifical coronation to the icon of “Our Lady of the Assumption” enthroned at the altar, and the crown was blessed by Pope Francis on August 3, with the coronation rites held on August 15.

Visitors to the cathedral can appreciate not only the architectural harmony of its basilica form and dome, but also the layered history of faith, art and community service embodied within its walls. Whether one lingers in the quiet of the nave or pauses to consider the altar’s painting and the marble font donated by Pope Pius IX in 1852, this cathedral offers a moment of calm in Odessa’s vibrant cityscape.