Architecture of new cathedrals in Ukraine

The subject of this article is the contemporary cathedrals of Ukraine as an expression of the continuity of the autochthonous tradition of sacred architecture, as a space for revealing the archetypes of the Ukrainian Christian church, and as the most representative phenomenon of contemporary Ukrainian sacred architecture. Cathedrals are regarded as a space of dialogue between tradition and modernity, in which the reinterpretation of historical heritage, the formation of new architectural images, and the actualisation of the spiritual and cultural archetypes of the Ukrainian nation take place. The aim of the study was to identify the principal archetypes of Ukrainian church architecture and to examine the ways in which they are interpreter and realised in the architecture of new cathedrals in Ukraine. Particular attention is devoted to the historical continuity of the sacred tradition, the relationship between pre-Christian and Christian worldviews, as well as to the search for a contemporary architectural language capable of expressing the spiritual essence of the church in the context of the modern world. The research employs the historical-genetic method, the hermeneutic method, comparative-typological analysis, the architectural-compositional method, as well as cultural and phenomenological interpretations of sacred space. The analysis covers the principal stages in the development of Ukrainian sacred architecture – from the pre-Christian cultural strata and the period of Kyivan Rus’ to the Ukrainian Baroque and the National Style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. On this basis, three fundamental archetypes of Ukrainian church architecture have been identified: the Princely tradition, the Ukrainian (Cossack, Mazepa) Baroque, and the National Style of the modern era. The study demonstrates that the contemporary architecture of Ukrainian cathedrals is developing in several directions: through the creative reinterpretation of historical archetypes, the search for new forms of expressing the sacred, and reference to universal, interreligious images and primordial forms of the sacred. It has been established that the principal challenge of contemporary sacred architecture is not the reproduction of historical styles but rather a profound understanding of tradition and the creation of an authentic contemporary type of Ukrainian church that responds to the spiritual and cultural needs of contemporary society. The architecture of new cathedrals is perceived as a unique laboratory forthe search for a new Ukrainian sacred architecture capable of integrating theological tradition, national identity, and contemporary architectural culture. The study demonstrates thatthe sacred dimension of architecture is revealed throughthe architectural image ofthe church andthe architect’s personal creative revelation. This dimension is capable of transcending confessional boundaries and fostering a deeper understanding ofthe unity ofthe Christian tradition.