In Chernihiv cathedral, drama theater artists dance in front of holy relics

On December 26, 2025, the National Architectural and Historical Reserve “Ancient Chernihiv,” held the “Predyvo” festival within the walls of Chernihiv’s Holy Trinity Cathedral, which had previously been taken away from the UOC. According to the Information and Educational Department of the UOC, the event sparked a negative public reaction.

As part of the program, artists of the Chernihiv T. H. Shevchenko Academic Musical and Drama Theater performed vocal–dance and theatrical numbers in front of the relics of Sts. Theodosiy and Philaret of Chernihiv, as well as of Venerable Schema-Archimandrite Lavrentiy.

The management of the Chernihiv reserve described the performance as “a form of cultural interpretation of the region’s history.” In particular, according to the performers themselves, what they did in the church “sounded not only as artistic works, but also as a kind of spiritual address.”

“However, photographs from this ‘spiritual–artistic action’ evoked very different emotions among readers – outrage and rejection. It is difficult to justify, with any positive arguments, the tastelessness of yet another performance by the local reserve inside the premises of expropriated Chernihiv shrines,” the UOC press service commented.

It is noted that what shocked the public most was that the dancing and spectacles of dubious character took place not merely under the vaults of an ancient, prayer-soaked church, but directly beside the holy relics of the Chernihiv saints.

As the UOJ previously reported, a magazine presentation was earlier held in the Chernihiv cathedral that had been taken from the UOC.