Bishop Joseph (Milan): “We have an ambitious plan, thus, we hope for God’s assistance and the support of good-willed people”

During the blessing of the Patriarchal Cathedral, the central altar in the church will be blessed according to Bishop Joseph (Milan), head of the Overseers Board of the building of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ.  As the bishop noted, right now, they are putting a floor in the sanctuary where the main altar will stand.  It remains an open question, whether a marble floor will be installed in the whole Cathedral.  By today, the floor heating has been completed.  This will be followed by a cement covering under the marble.  “Since we are building a Cathedral to last for centuries, we do not want to speed tasks just to get them done.  I think that after the blessing - by the winter - this will be completed.

As the head of the Overseers Board informed, they are also dealing now with the assembly of the entry doors, designed by choice Ukrainian artists.  Special attention has been accorded the surrounding area.  Plans include a fence with an entry gate, territorial division according to the landscape design, placing cobblestones and the planting of bushes and trees.  “Such a project is ambitious, therefore we hope for God’s assistance and that of good-willed people.”

The most complex task, says Bishop Joseph, turned out to be the work on the final project of the general interior of the Cathedral.  Many artists, art studios and icon painting associations have been invited to discus and propose designs. No final agreement on this has yet been reached.   Therefore, already next week, there will be a competition announced for the design of the interior.  All proposals have to be submitted by December 1^st.

In conclusion, the hierarch mentioned that the collection for donations for the Main Bell of the Cathedral is still continuing. This bell, to be named “Archangel Michael” is already being poured and it will weigh about 4 tons with a final cost of 97,000 Euros.  By now, only 25,000 Euros have been raised.  “We hope that our laity will enhance this effort so that the voice of this bell will call everyone to the cradle of Ukrainian Christianity, to Kyiv, and will herald the blessing of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Kyiv.”

UGCC Department of Information