54°43′38″N 55°58′25″E / 54.72722°N 55.97365°E
The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Theotokos is the largest Orthodox church in Ufa, Bashkortostan. It has been the seat of the Bishops of Ufa since May 2016.[1]
The azure-walled parish church with five golden domes was built between 1901 and 1909 on the site chosen by Bishop Antony. Its construction was financed by local merchants, notably Nikifor Patokin.[2] Its most striking feature is the 47-metre-tall pagoda-like belltower which used to dominate the city's skyline.
In 1919, the Bolsheviks had the church converted into a hospital. After the domes were torn down, the building was used as a cinema.[2] The Russian Orthodox Church reclaimed the property in 1991. Restoration works took 15 years and involved a new set of frescos for the interior. A bust of poet Denis Davydov was placed in the church garden in 2004.[2]
