The French Ambassador to Ukraine visited the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odessa

Gaël Veissier, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Ukraine, paid another visit to the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odessa. According to the Information and Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, this was the diplomat’s third such visit.

During the visit, which took place with the blessing of Metropolitan Agafangel of Odessa and Izmail, the guest was greeted by Archpriest Miroslav Vdodovich, assistant to the cathedral’s rector. The clergy representative conveyed words of greeting from the metropolitan to the ambassador and provided a detailed account of the progress of the ongoing restoration work at the site.

In turn, the ambassador expressed his deep gratitude to Metropolitan Agafangel for his efforts to revive the main religious center of southern Ukraine. The diplomat emphasized the significance of the cathedral and expressed hope for its full and speedy restoration, as well as wishing for peace in the region.

As a reminder, on June 23, 2026, in Odessa , representatives of the OCU, with the support of private security forces, seized the church dedicated to St. Alexander Nevsky. The seizure of the church was led by the so-called OCU chaplain, Theodore Orobets.