The history of the Ukrainian church service in Switzerland is closely connected with the fate of Ukrainian immigrants who arrived here searching for refuge or a better life after World War I. After World War II, the Ukrainian community grew, and the need for spiritual support increased. The need for Ukrainian services also grew after the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war in 2022, when many Ukrainians found themselves in Switzerland. Local religious communities and priests expanded their activities and are doing everything they can to accommodate more Ukrainians who need to attend church and hear prayers in their native language. These churches have become centers where meetings for children and adults, joint trips, and support groups are organized.
From the very beginning, Ukrainian religious services took place in various chapels and churches provided by local Roman Catholic parishes. These churches have now become centers of Ukrainian Orthodoxy.
Which churches can Ukrainians visit in different cantons?
Orthodox centers in different cantons
In Switzerland, such centers exist in many cantons: Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano, Küri, St. Gallen, Zurich, and Schaffhausen. We provide brief information about specific centers to help you find the church nearest to you.
Basel
In Basel, services are held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month at 15:00 in the St. Marien church at Holbeinstrasse 30, 4051 Basel.
How to get there? Take bus number 30 (right across from the central train station) and ride one stop.
Bern
Services in Bern usually occur every Sunday at 12:00 in the crypt of the Holy Trinity church at Taubenstrasse 6, 3011 Bern.
How to get there? The easiest way is to walk (about 5 minutes) from the central train station.
Geneva
In Geneva, services are usually held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month at 10:30. They occur at the church of St. Francis of Assisi at Av. Petit-Senn 16, 1225 Chêne-Bourg, Suisse.
How to get there? Take tram 12 or 17 to the Chêne-Bourg Place Favre stop.
Lausanne
Services in Lausanne usually occur on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 14:00 in the "Sacré-Coeur" church at Chemin de Beau-Rivage 3, 1006.
How to get there? You can walk from the central train station, which will take about 10 minutes. Follow Avenue d'Ouchy, turn onto Avenue d'Elisée, and take the first street on the right, Chemin de Beau-Rivage.
Lugano
Services in Lugano are held on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at 14:00 in the Sanctuary of Madonna di Loreto, located at via Loreto 18, 6900 Lugano. After the service, there are gatherings where you can chat and enjoy tea with treats.
Chur
Chur services usually occur on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 14:00 in the St. Lucia church at Alte Schanfiggerstrasse 9, 7000 Chur. You can confess before and after the service, and Ukrainian gatherings with tea are held in the parish hall after each service.
St. Gallen
Services are held on the 4th Sunday of the month at 14:00 in the St. Othmar church at Grenzstrasse 10, 9000. Ukrainian meetings also take place after the service.
Zurich
You can attend Ukrainian services on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 14:00 in the crypt of the "Liebfrauenkirche" church at Weinbergstrasse 36, 8006.
How to get there?
- On foot – 10 minutes from the central train station;
- From the Bahnhofqua tram stop, take tram number 46 towards Rütihof to Stampfenbachplatz stop and then walk for 6 minutes.
- From the Central tram stop, take tram number 7 towards Bahnhof Stettbach to Haldenegg stop and then walk for 4 minutes. Trams number 6 and 10 also stop here.
Check the schedule of services in all centers on the website.
Parish of the Nativity of the Virgin in Schaffhausen (Canton of Vaud)
This is an Orthodox church of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, part of the Diocese of Switzerland.
Services are held in the Catholic chapel at Chemin de la Ville 2, 1373 Chavornay.
Details can be found on the parish's website.
Saint Catherine's Parish in Geneva
Another church in Geneva is a French-speaking Orthodox parish of the Geneva Diocese of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Services are held at Chemin des Cornillons 12, Chambésy, located in the crypt of the Church of Saint Paul.
How to get there?
- Take a regional train towards Coppet from Geneva train station, get off at the first station, Chambésy, and then reach the church via Chemin de Chambésy or Chemin des Cornillons.
- Take bus 20, get off at Chambésy-Place station, and reach the Orthodox center via Chemin de Chambésy.
- Bus 59 towards Plage du Vengeron, stop at Chambésy-Gare.
In both this church and the one in Chavornay mentioned earlier, Father Oleksandr Sadkovsky serves, and you can contact him at the following contacts:
Phone: +41 76 223 57 01
Email: p.alexandre@saintecatherine.ch
We hope you find a church where you can attend regularly and receive the much-needed spiritual support, especially for Ukrainians who have found themselves in Switzerland due to the war.
