Key points
- The Church of St. Nicholas was handed over to the religious community after years of delays.
- The court decision to transfer the church was not enforced for a long time.
- The building was used as a concert venue.
- During the inspection, the emergency condition of the structure was recorded.
- The handover took place during a festive mass on the occasion of Epiphany.
St. Nicholas Church in Kyiv was officially transferred to the religious community of the parish after many years of delays in the execution of the court decision. The transfer took place during a festive Mass on the occasion of the Epiphany, which was held within the walls of the church.
The issue of returning the church remained unresolved, despite the instructions of the President of Ukraine and a memorandum signed with the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine. For years, the building was actually used as a concert venue rather than a full-fledged place of worship for the religious community.
To clarify the reasons for the delay, the Office of the Ombudsman of Ukraine sent official requests to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience. The responses indicated that the transfer was complicated by the need to relocate the National House of Organ and Chamber Music, as well as the lack of clear management decisions regarding the further use of the monument.
During a monitoring visit to the church, it was noted that the building was in a state of disrepair. Church services, attended by hundreds of people, were held in potentially dangerous conditions. The inspection found that urgent measures were needed to ensure the safe use of the building and the preservation of the architectural monument. The relevant recommendations were forwarded to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
The issue of transferring the church was under constant supervision by the representative for equal rights and freedoms, rights of national minorities, political and religious views. He maintained constant contact with the religious community, provided information on the progress of the case, facilitated the procedures and maintained a working dialogue between all parties involved.
The actual transfer of the church to the community took place during a festive mass, symbolically emphasising the return of the church to its original spiritual function.
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