Transfiguration Cathedral in Sumy

Transfiguration Cathedral is considered to be one of the most majestic and beautiful temples in Sumy. Bell tower is visible from anywhere in the city. It is a religious and historical heart of the city.

The cathedral was founded and built simultaneously with the city in the middle of the 17th century.

Originally the cathedral was built entirely of wood. Due to the frequent fires the church has often been restored. At the end of the 17th century the church was renovated and reconstructed stone.

Transfiguration Church in Sumy is made in combination of several architectural styles: Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism. The temple has a tower with chimes which height is over 55 m. The tower is decorated with a spherical gilded dome, and cast-iron figures of the evangelists Mark, Matthew, Luke and John. The chimes of the Transfiguration Church were made by Western artists and have the same mechanism of action and sound, as the chimes of the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin.

One of the main attractions of the temple is a magnificent marble iconostasis executed with application made of Ural malachite; the statues of saints which adorn the cathedral and bell tower and shrine pilgrimage are the wonder-working Theotokos of Tikhvin and Theotokos of Korsun.
The main altar of the church is made of precious cypress wood and is trimmed with silver brocade.

This monument of religious architecture is the current cathedral and it is under the control of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate.