Blue, like the sky itself, the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ calms the soul and provides a sense of tranquility, despite the fact that the history of this cathedral is filled with dramatic twists. In terms of construction quality, architectural details, and design, the former church, now the cathedral, is considered one of the most original and perfect examples of late Baroque architecture in Volyn region.

Over the centuries, it has passed from one monastic order to another, changed denominations and names, until it finally became the main church of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. It all began in 1718, when the Volyn Castellan Jadwiga Zagorowska sent a mission of the Jesuit Order to the town, and in 1755, the headman Hnat Sadovskyi and his wife laid the foundation for the Jesuit church. Its construction took a long 15 years.

In 1762, the Jesuit church was granted the status of a monastery, and in 1770, the church was consecrated and named the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, later renamed the Church of the Epistle of the Apostles. However, three years later, Pope Clement XIV issued the papal bull, which abolished the Jesuit order, and all its institutions in Poland and Russia were closed. The church and monastery were transferred to the Greek Catholic order of the Basilian Fathers.

In 1840, this order in Volodymyr converted to Orthodoxy, and the church became Orthodox as well. The interior of the church was remodeled to meet the needs of the Orthodox Church. From 1891, it served as the residence of the Volodymyr Orthodox bishops. However, in 1921, after the annexation of Volyn by Poland, the church was once again handed over to the Roman Catholic Church and became a parish church. The Roman Catholic parish operated there until 1945.

During World War II, a bomb explosion damaged the northern vestry and the presbytery. After the war, the parish was liquidated, and the church was placed under protection as a historical monument.

In 1983, restoration and repair work began, and with the onset of independence in 1991, the church was transferred to the Orthodox community, which restored the sanctuary. Today, it is the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Nevertheless, this is not the only unique feature of the “Sacred Heart of Jesus.” Beneath the church, there are large and mysterious underground chambers, some of which are open for visitors to explore.