Baroque Concert Held at Seized St. Michael’s Cathedral in Cherkasy

CHERKASY, UKRAINE — A Baroque music concert by the Noire ensemble was held on October 1 at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Cherkasy, a church that was seized from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in October 2024 and subsequently transferred to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

The concert was held on the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God and Ukraine’s Day of Defenders. The program featured portions of Antonio Vivaldi’s "Stabat Mater," along with works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Henry Purcell. Bach’s aria “Erbarme dich, mein Gott” from the "St. Matthew Passion," a choral prelude, and an orchestral suite were among the works performed.

The organizers said the program addressed themes of maternal love, suffering, and hope, which they associated with the October 1 observance.

St. Michael’s Cathedral was the principal cathedral of the UOC’s Cherkasy Eparchy before it was seized on October 17, 2024. Following the seizure, the OCU and local authorities designated the building as a garrison church. The cathedral had previously served as the center of the UOC’s diocesan life in Cherkasy and houses the relics of St. Macarius of Kaniv, who suffered martyrdom in the 17th century.

The OCU’s cathedral administration said the church now serves military personnel and their families and is open to the public. It also thanked the Noire ensemble for choosing the cathedral as the venue for its performance.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Metr. Theodosiy said Patr. Bartholomew could stop church seizures.