Holy Archangel-Mikhailovsky Women's Monastery

Learn about another history of the formation and development of Orthodoxy in Ukraine, you can visit

St. Archangel-Mikhailovsky convent. In 1835, Count Mikhail Vorontsov on the outskirts of the city, near the sea, built a church in honor of Archangel Michael - his heavenly patron. Five years later, the Holy Synod established a convent at this temple.

St. Archangel-Mikhailovsky convent then became a real spiritual and cultural center of Odessa. There was a hospital and refectory for the poor, a diocesan school for orphaned girls was created. Unfortunately, during the "revolutionary storm" the monastery was recognized as "counter-revolutionary" and was closed. In 1931, the Archangel-Mikhailovsky Cathedral with a bell tower was blown up. Although in the formidable 40s they tried to revive monastic life in the remaining buildings, but in 1961 everything was closed again.

Only in 1992 the real revival of the monastery began: restoration and construction works were carried out, workshops for the creation and sewing of vestments, embroidery with beads and gold, restoration of icons were reopened. On the territory of the monastery there is a refectory for the food of the poor and the House of Mercy, which sheltered people without a certain place of residence. Metropolitan Agafangel donated a miraculous icon of the Herbovetsk Mother of God and church utensils for performing ceremonies.

Currently, the Museum “Christian Odessa” is opened, where unique collections are collected, telling about the formation of the Orthodox religion in the city.