Holy Trinity Cathedral is the main Orthodox church of Lutsk and the cathedral church of the Lutsk and Volyn Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. It stands on Theatre Square and occupies the buildings of the former Bernardine church and monastery, an architectural monument of national significance.
Church of the Holy Cross
The complex was preceded by the Church of the Holy Cross, one of the oldest parish churches of Lutsk. It is considered the first Catholic temple in the city: it stood on Gradna Hill, on the former lands of the Orthodox Monastery of Saint Basil. In the mid-17th century, the church was donated to the Bernardine Order. A noblewoman of Lutsk, Agnieszka Staniszewska, endowed a hospital for the poor at the Bernardines and bought an adjacent plot of land for the monks.
Bernardine Monastery
In 1721, the Bernardines built a new brick monastery, and the construction of the church was completed in 1789. The architect was Pawel Gizycki. Near the monastery there were two fenced cemeteries, outbuildings, and a sawmill. History also had its dramatic pages: in 1646, due to a land dispute between the Bernardines and the parish of the neighboring Church of Saint James, a clash occurred in which a monk was killed, and the case was tried in court.
Orthodox Cathedral
In the second half of the 19th century, the complex was transferred to the Orthodox community. In the 1870s, the church was rebuilt—a tower and a central dome were added, and from 1880 it became an Orthodox cathedral. Today, in addition to the church, state institutions operate in the former monastery buildings.
Tip
The cathedral is active, so attire should be appropriate. Theatre Square is the starting point for a walk through the center: from here it is a 10-minute walk to the old town and Lutsk Castle.
What to see
The building combines the Baroque style of the Bernardine church with later Orthodox additions: on the facade, it is clearly visible where the old church ends and where the tower and dome of the 1870s begin. Around it are the buildings of the former monastery with a courtyard. Theatre Square in front of the cathedral is one of the main squares of the city, where holidays and fairs take place.
The cathedral is the main temple of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in Volyn, so on major holidays, bishops serve here, and there are very many people.
How to find
Theatre Square, center of Lutsk.
