Royal Martyrs Fresco to Be Removed from Vladimir Cathedral

Photo: bug.org.ua

VLADIMIR, UKRAINE — Ukrainian authorities and representatives of the state-backed Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) have agreed to remove a fresco depicting the Royal Martyrs from the Holy Dormition Cathedral, a church recently seized from the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

According to MP Igor Huz, speaking on Radio BUG, the fresco is viewed by state officials and OCU representatives not as an image of canonized saints, but as a symbol of Russian imperialism. The Russian Orthodox Church canonized Tsar Nicholas II and his family as Royal Passion-bearers in 2000, a decision later followed by the UOC.

Huz stated that the fresco’s future has already been discussed with OCU leadership and that, after dismantling, it will be replaced with images of “Ukrainian saints” without imperial connotations. Although OCU faithful were brought in for a January 29 service led by Epiphany Dumenko, the cathedral has reportedly remained largely empty.

Tsar Nicholas II, regarded as the founder-patron of the Dormition Cathedral, funded its reconstruction from ruins, contributing about 60,000 rubles (≈$1.8 million today) and initiating a collection across all Russian Empire churches. In total, 127,550 rubles (≈$3.8 million) were raised, and by 1900 Russian architects had rebuilt the cathedral in its present form.

Previously, the UOJ reported on a remembrance of the Royal Passion Bearers of Russia. 

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