The Kyiv Church of St. Nicholas, which is currently in state ownership under the management of the Ministry of Culture, should be handed over to the Catholic community. Such a decision was made by the court, satisfying the long-standing demands of the parish to return the historic building to its religious purpose.
The Church of St. Nicholas was built over a hundred years ago by Catholics and from the beginning served as a place of worship. During the Soviet period, the church was illegally turned into a concert hall, depriving the Catholic community of its religious building.
"Archival documents and historical facts unequivocally indicate that the church was originally intended for religious ceremonies, and its transformation into a concert hall was an illegal act of the Soviet authorities," said Father Pavlo Vyshkovskyi during the court session.
Today, the Church of St. Nicholas is under the management of the Ministry of Culture and is registered on the balance sheet of the National House of Organ and Chamber Music of Ukraine. Although concerts are still held in the building, the Catholic community insisted on returning it to exclusively religious use.
The trial lasted a long time, because this issue was repeatedly raised by both religious and public organizations. The court's decision was an important step towards restoration of historical justice.
According to the court's decision, the Ministry of Culture is obliged to transfer the church to the ownership of the parish. However, the question remains open: how will this affect the activity of the organ hall, which currently operates in the temple premises?
The Catholic community has declared its readiness to cooperate with the state to preserve the church's cultural function, but emphasizes that its main purpose should remain religious life.
