The cathedral was built using exclusively oak and pine timber, relying on precise wood-joining techniques instead of metal fasteners.
Yakym Pohrebnyak, the architect, reportedly built a small-scale model of the cathedral to demonstrate the structural feasibility of his nine-dome design to the Cossack council.
The structure reaches a height of 65 meters, making it one of the tallest wooden structures of its era in Eastern Europe.
The interior is designed to create an acoustic chamber effect, which was a deliberate choice by the builders for liturgical chanting.
The cathedral has survived multiple major fires and war-time periods that destroyed surrounding wooden structures in the region.
In the Soviet era, the building was repurposed as a regional historical museum, which ironically contributed to its physical preservation during periods of anti-religious state policy.
The Holy Trinity Cathedral in Novomoskovsk, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, is a nine-domed wooden masterpiece constructed entirely without the use of iron nails. Built between 1775 and 1778, the structure stands as a pinnacle of Ukrainian Baroque wooden architecture. It was commissioned by the Zaporozhian Cossacks and designed by the master carpenter Yakym Pohrebnyak. The cathedral features a unique hierarchical arrangement of nine towers, creating a complex pyramidal silhouette. It is one of the few surviving large-scale wooden cathedrals from the 18th century in Ukraine. The building served as the main temple for the Samara Cossack Palanka. Its engineering relies on complex joinery techniques to maintain structural integrity over centuries. The site remains a functioning religious facility and a protected monument of national cultural heritage.
From the park paths in Peremohy Square, where the full nine-dome verticality of the cathedral can be framed against the sky.
Walk around the entire perimeter to observe the changing geometry of the nine domes from different angles.
Take time to examine the intricate joinery visible on the exterior walls where wooden logs meet.
Maintain a respectful distance from active prayer services occurring within the main nave.
Avoid taking photographs of worshippers during active services or private prayer.
Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees is required; men should remove hats, and women are expected to cover their heads inside the sanctuary.
