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

The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has decided to transfer St. Nicholas Church in Kyiv to the Religious Community of St. Nicholas Parish of the Roman Catholic Church for free use. The term of use is 50 years.

The decision is the result of a long dialogue and cooperation, which takes into account historical justice for the religious community, ensures the protection of a monument of national importance, and provides for responsible actions by the state regarding the further development of the National Organ and Chamber Music Hall of Ukraine.

On 6 January, a prayer service for the defenders of Ukraine and Holy Mass on the occasion of the Feast of the Epiphany were held at St. Nicholas Church. The event was attended by Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko, Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy – Minister of Culture of Ukraine Tetiana Berezhna, representatives of the clergy, parishioners and invited guests.

Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture of Ukraine Tetiana Berezhna noted: "We have found a solution whereby the community will receive a legal, long-term right to use the church, while the state will retain ownership of it, guaranteeing the protection of its historical and architectural heritage. We are also currently working on finding premises for the National Organ and Chamber Music Hall. Today's decision is not the end, but a starting point for us to move forward. Ahead is the restoration of the Cathedral, the return of believers and prayers within these walls."

She also thanked representatives of the religious community, the National Organ and Chamber Music Hall of Ukraine, members of parliament, and cultural heritage specialists.

Representatives of the clergy addressed those present with speeches and prayers, including: Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church, Ordinary of Kyiv-Zhytomyr, Vitalii Kryvytskyi, and Father Pavlo Vyshkovsky, the parish priest of St. Nicholas Parish.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, noted that the transfer of St. Nicholas Church is an example of unity between believers, the state, and the Church: "This day shows how important it is for the people, the Church, and the state to be together. The path has not been easy, but this is Ukraine today: with many challenges that we can only overcome with God's help. St. Nicholas Church was always meant to be a house of prayer, and today we see this aspiration come to fruition."

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

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

The transfer is carried out in accordance with the current legislation of Ukraine, the Procedure for the Transfer of Religious Property, as well as in accordance with a court decision that has entered into legal force, and taking into account the need to ensure a balance between the rights and legitimate interests of the religious organisation and the state institution – the National Organ and Chamber Music Hall of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine continues to work on the implementation of the Music Hall project. In particular, it is selecting state-owned properties for the relocation of the National Organ and Chamber Music Hall of Ukraine.