The Government of Ukraine has officially transferred the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Kyiv for its full use by the Roman Catholic community, putting an end to decades in which the temple was under state control and dedicated to cultural purposes unrelated to worship.
St. Nicholas Cathedral is a national cultural heritage site. During the Soviet period, it was closed by Moscow authorities as part of systematic religious repression and transformed into a concert hall and organ venue. Throughout the 20th century and into the early 21st, the building survived a fire during World War II and, more recently, suffered damage from an explosion caused by a Russian missile nearby in 2024, in the context of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to the official statement, this decision has been made possible thanks to the continued work of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, involving Deputy Prime Minister Tetiana Berezhna, members of Parliament, the affected religious community, and other institutional actors. With the return of the temple, the Catholic parish will now be able to restore the building, celebrate worship normally, and strengthen the religious life of the community.
The Ukrainian Government emphasized that, despite the trials imposed by war, repression, and violence, the cathedral has remained a symbol of spiritual resistance in the country’s capital and for a nation that, after decades of persecution, recognizes the value of freedom of conscience and faith.
Representatives of various Christian denominations participated in the restitution ceremony, praying together for the country’s defenders, the end of the conflict, and a just peace. The authorities highlighted this gesture as a demonstration of unity in the face of attempts to instrumentalize religion as a factor of division.
The Executive reiterated its commitment to ensuring equal treatment for all religious denominations in Ukraine, as well as freedom of conscience and worship.