Dormition Monastery, Orthodox monastery in Odesa, Ukraine
The Dormition Monastery stands at 6 Mayachnyi Pereulok on the cape at Velykyi Fontan, in Odesa. Its white bell tower rises in tiers above a stone base, with arched openings on each face and dark bells in the lower tier; a gold inscription band wraps the tower below the upper tier, which is crowned by a gilded onion dome and cross. The monastery's main church, formerly dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God "Life-Giving Spring", now bears the Dormition name.
The monastery was founded in 1824 and became a central religious institution as Odesa expanded rapidly during the 19th century. Its construction and development paralleled the city's emergence as a major Black Sea port.
The monastery remains an active center for Orthodox worship, where daily services and seasonal celebrations follow centuries-old Eastern Christian traditions. Residents and visitors alike experience the living continuity of monastic practice in the city's spiritual life.
The monastery stands at 6 Mayachnyi Pereulok (Lighthouse Lane) in the Velykyi Fontan district, on a cape above the sea, about 16 tram stops from the city centre. It is an active men's monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, so visitors should dress modestly and keep quiet during services. The grounds contain several churches, a necropolis and a hotel building.
In the monastery necropolis, south of the Cathedral of the Icon of the Life-Giving Spring, lie Metropolitan John (Kukhtin) of Prague and Metropolitan Macarius (Oksiyuk) of Warsaw. In December 1987 the remains of most of Odesa's ruling hierarchs of the 19th and early 20th centuries were moved here.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,776 contributors worldwide.