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Ukraine's Orthodox Church is a Space Museum

Published February 11th, 2019 - 08:12 GMT

Words by Sally Shakkour

Imagine yourself going inside a traditional Orthodox Church with a huge gold cross on top. There you expect to see icons, priests, and regular religious trappings. But no, this is not the case at all!  Visitors here unexpectedly find only space items such as a lunar rover, and the helmet of the first man in space "Yuri Gagarin".

The church was one of the buildings that was ovrhauled amidst an "anti-religion campaign" in the Soviet era. Today the church is located in central Ukraine but it has long ben converted into a space museum. That was in the 1970s.

 

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A guide waits for visitors at the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

A guide waits for visitors at the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

The wooden church in central Ukraine is one of thousands of buildings that were repurposed or simply destroyed during an anti-religion campaign in the Soviet era. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

The wooden church in central Ukraine is one of thousands of buildings that were repurposed or simply destroyed during an anti-religion campaign in the Soviet era. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

A picture taken on January 11, 2019 shows exhibitions items at the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

A picture taken on January 11, 2019 shows exhibitions items at the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

Believers are asking whether it's time for the century old structure to be returned to the Church, especially as Ukraine is undergoing a religious revival. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

Believers are asking whether it's time for the century old structure to be returned to the Church, especially as Ukraine is undergoing a religious revival. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

A man visits the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

A man visits the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

A guide waits for visitors at the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

A guide waits for visitors at the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

A guide wipes off snows outside the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

A guide wipes off snows outside the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

A man visits the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

A man visits the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

A guide waits for visitors at the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
The wooden church in central Ukraine is one of thousands of buildings that were repurposed or simply destroyed during an anti-religion campaign in the Soviet era. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A picture taken on January 11, 2019 shows exhibitions items at the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
Believers are asking whether it's time for the century old structure to be returned to the Church, especially as Ukraine is undergoing a religious revival. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A man visits the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A guide waits for visitors at the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A guide wipes off snows outside the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A man visits the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A guide waits for visitors at the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A guide waits for visitors at the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
The wooden church in central Ukraine is one of thousands of buildings that were repurposed or simply destroyed during an anti-religion campaign in the Soviet era. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
The wooden church in central Ukraine is one of thousands of buildings that were repurposed or simply destroyed during an anti-religion campaign in the Soviet era. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A picture taken on January 11, 2019 shows exhibitions items at the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A picture taken on January 11, 2019 shows exhibitions items at the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
Believers are asking whether it's time for the century old structure to be returned to the Church, especially as Ukraine is undergoing a religious revival. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
Believers are asking whether it's time for the century old structure to be returned to the Church, especially as Ukraine is undergoing a religious revival. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A man visits the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A man visits the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A guide waits for visitors at the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A guide waits for visitors at the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A guide wipes off snows outside the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A guide wipes off snows outside the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A man visits the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP
A man visits the space museum located in Saint Paraskeva church in Pereyaslav-Khemlnytsky, a small town some 80 kilometers southeast of Kiev on January 11, 2019. ALEKSEY FILIPPOV / AFP

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