Ministry of Culture transfers Church of St. Nicholas in Kyiv to Roman Catholic community for free use for 50 years

The Ministry of Culture has transferred the Church of St. Nicholas in Kyiv to the Roman Catholic community for free use for 50 years. This is stated in the report of the Ministry of Culture, the Ukrainian News agency reports.

"The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has decided to transfer the Church of St. Nicholas in Kyiv to the religious community of the Parish of St. Nicholas of the Roman Catholic Church for free use. The term of use is 50 years," the message says.

It is noted that such a decision is the result of a long dialogue and interaction, which takes into account historical justice for the religious community, ensures the protection of a monument of national importance and provides for responsible state actions for the further development of the National House of Organ and Chamber Music of Ukraine.

"We have found a solution whereby the community receives a legal, long-term right to use the church, and the state retains its ownership, guaranteeing the protection of historical and architectural heritage. We are also currently working on finding premises for the National House of Organ and Chamber Music. Today's decision is not the final one, but a point of support from which we move on. Ahead is the restoration of the Church, the return of believers and prayer to these walls," said Tetiana Berezhna, Vice Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture.

The church will be used for worship, religious rites, ceremonies, prayers, meetings and religious education, and the religious community undertakes to ensure the proper technical and sanitary condition of the building, insurance of the facility, payment of utility and operating costs, as well as compliance with the requirements of the legislation in the field of cultural heritage protection.

The National House of Organ and Chamber Music of Ukraine state organization has concluded a free use agreement with the religious community and signed an acceptance certificate.

The transfer is carried out pursuant to a court decision. The transfer process was delayed due to the relocation of the National House of Organ and Chamber Music to another building.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, in December 2024, during a russian missile strike on Kyiv, the church was damaged.

The Church of St. Nicholas is a Roman Catholic church in Kyiv built in 1899-1909 in the Neo-Gothic style by Kyiv architect Vladyslav Horodetskyi. Since 2009, the church building has been in an emergency state. In 2021, a fire broke out in the church, after which the Ministry of Culture promised to transfer the church to the community of believers.