The Russian occupational authorities in Mariupol announced plans to “remodel” the Church of St. Petro Mohyla and the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, altering its distinctive artwork to adhere to Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) standards, Mariupol City Council reported on November 6.
This church is unique, as it is the only one in the world fully adorned in the traditional Petrykivka painting style—a feature that earned it a place in Ukraine’s Record Book.
Now, under orders from the occupational administration, a group of “Orthodox volunteers” is set to modify the church’s exterior, stripping it of the signature style and replacing it with ROC-prescribed elements.
Before the invasion, the church—located in Mariupol’s Primorsky district—had been restored with the support of local volunteers and private patrons, with prominent contributions from Ukrainian artists.
The Petrykivka designs were created by Lviv artist Olga Cheriomushkina, lending the church a cultural distinction found nowhere else in the world.
During the siege of Mariupol in 2022, the church served as a sanctuary for civilians.
However, once Russian forces took control, a ROC commission reviewed the church’s decorations and deemed them inconsistent with ROC requirements.
Earlier, Russian companies started to target Mariupol and other occupied Ukrainian territories for labor recruitment.
