Wooden church of All Saints Cathedral of Resurrection, Kyiv

Right beside it, a massive stone cathedral was rising — while a small log church got on with the job of serving people. The wooden All Saints Church appeared just as the stone was still being mixed into concrete next door — and turned out to be more needed than all the scaffolding around it.

Among the high-rises and traffic noise of the Lybidska area hides a quiet wooden island. People come here not for the "wow" photo, but for the silence.

Quick facts

What it is and why people come

This is a small wooden church consecrated in honour of All Saints. It was built next to the Resurrection of Christ Cathedral — a large stone structure that took years to complete. While the main cathedral was under construction, it was this wooden church where daily services were held.

People don't come here for grandeur. The wooden church wins on different terms: intimacy, the smell of timber, the feeling that you've stepped out of the concrete megacity into a quiet courtyard somewhere. It's a contrast worth a short detour from the busy avenue.

History

All Saints Church was built in the mid-2000s as the parish church for the Resurrection of Christ Cathedral, which was still under construction at the time. It was consecrated in spring 2008, and services have continued here ever since. By tradition, major feast days draw sizeable crowds to the square in front of the church.

The logic is simple and time-honoured: when a community sets out to build a large stone cathedral, it first puts up a temporary church so people have somewhere to pray today, not in ten years. In Ukraine, that "first church" was very often a log structure — quick to build, warm, and visually familiar.

The big stone building took years to rise. The small wooden one started serving people right away — and that's the one people got used to visiting.

Tradition and symbolism

This wooden church is young, so there are no ancient legends about it. What it does have, though, is an entire tradition of Ukrainian log-church architecture behind it — and that's more interesting than any invented myth.

A church "without a single nail"

Classic Ukrainian wooden churches were built by craftsmen using notched joints and wooden pegs, keeping metal to a minimum. Hence the saying that such a church was built "without a single nail." It's not entirely literal, but it captures the essence: wood held to wood, not to iron.

Why "All Saints"

The dedication to All Saints is one of the warmest in church tradition. It's a feast not for one saint but for all of them at once — famous and nameless, ancient and recent. For a small church beside a great cathedral, that all-encompassing dedication fits especially well.

What to see on site

The log structure itself. The main reason to come. Wooden walls, a simple silhouette, warm light inside — everything the glass-and-concrete city centre lacks.

Contrast with the great cathedral. Right beside it stands the massive stone Resurrection of Christ Cathedral. Standing between the two and looking from one to the other is a vivid lesson in how great churches actually come into being.

The courtyard. A quiet pocket amid the bustle around Lybidska. A good spot to catch your breath between errands in this part of Kyiv.

How to get there

Metro. The nearest landmark is Lybidska station. From there, it's a few minutes' walk towards the Resurrection of Christ Cathedral; the wooden church stands right beside it.

By car. Easy enough to reach by car, but it's worth scouting parking in advance — the area is busy.

Tip. Check the service schedule and visiting hours on site or in advance: this is an active church, not a museum with a fixed timetable.

Traveller's checklist

• Bring: a headscarf (for women) and modest clothing — this is an active church.
• Bring: a few minutes of calm — that's exactly what people come here for.
• Check: the service schedule if you'd like to attend a liturgy.
• Don't: turn it into a photo shoot during a service — people first, photos second.
• Don't: expect a "tourist-scale" attraction — the value here is intimate, not monumental.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located?

In Kyiv, beside the Resurrection of Christ Cathedral, near Lybidska metro station. Look for the large cathedral — the wooden church stands right next to it.

Can you just walk in?

This is an active church, so you can usually enter during services or designated hours. It's worth checking the schedule in advance.

Is it worth a special trip?

The location doesn't call for a dedicated trip on its own, but as a quiet stop while exploring this part of Kyiv, it's well worth a few minutes.

Often the warmest place isn't the biggest one. While the stone cathedral rose next door over the years, the small wooden church simply did its job: staying open, warm, and human.

If you find yourself near Lybidska, step off the avenue for a few minutes. Sometimes a small log church like this one stays with you longer than everything grand around it.