Poltava, Poltava Province, Ukraine, September 29, 2025
Photo: Poltava Diocese
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church celebrated the 375th anniversary of the Holy Cross Monastery in Poltava over the weekend.
The anniversary was celebrated on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, with the Divine Liturgy presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Philip of Poltava and Myrgorod, the Diocese of Poltava reports.
His Eminence was joined by His Grace Bishop Arkady of Hostomel, vicar of the Kiev Metropolia and local and visiting clergy.
Photo: Poltava Diocese
In addition to Abbess Mastridia and the sisterhood of the Holy Cross Convent, Abbess Angelina and the sisterhood of the Theotokos Monastery in Gorbanevka also attended with her community.
Bp. Arkady delivered the sermon following the Gospel reading.
After the Liturgy, a procession was held around the cathedral. Met. Philip concluded the celebration by greeting the faithful, presenting archiepiscopal certificates to benefactors, and blessing all present.
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Photo: Poltava Diocese
The Union of Orthodox Journalists provides a brief history of the monastery:
The Poltava Holy Cross Monastery was founded in 1650 by Abbot Kallistrat of the Mhar Transfiguration Monastery with the support of Metropolitan Sylvester Kossov of Kiev.
The monastery was founded in honor of the Cossacks’ victory over the forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and became the southernmost of the regimental monasteries of the 17th-century Hetmanate. The first monastic buildings were constructed from wood in a forest thicket, accessible only by a narrow path.
The main stone Exaltation of the Cross Cathedral was built from 1689 to 1709 with funds from General Judge Vasyl Kochubey and his son, Poltava Colonel Vasyl Kochubey, as well as Ukrainian Hetmans Ivan Samoylovich and Ivan Mazepa. In May 1709, during the siege of Poltava on the eve of the famous Battle of Poltava, the monastery became the residence of Swedish monarch Charles XII.
In 1923 the monastery was closed, and a significant portion of the buildings were destroyed in 1933. Since 1990 it has functioned as a convent of the canonical UOC.
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