St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Kyiv: Justice has prevailed!
The court upheld the fair decision of the court of first instance to return St. Nicholas Church to the Catholic parish in Kyiv.
St. Nicholas Church Transferred
On 5 June 2025, the Court of Appeal in Dnipro upheld a lower court ruling to transfer St. Nicholas Church in Kyiv back to the Roman Catholic community. The decision represents a major turning point in the long-standing effort to return the historic church to its rightful caretakers. “We have been praying for this for years. And today, justice has prevailed,” said Fr. Pavlo VYSHKOVSKYI, OMI, the parish priest. “The court recognized our right, and the truth. This is a victory not only for Catholics, but for all of Ukrainian civil society.”
A Long-Awaited Return
The case dates back over two decades. In 2005, then-President Viktor Yushchenko initiated efforts to return the church. Years later, in 2020, President Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed this commitment in a letter to the Holy Father. Dated 6 October 2020, Zelensky’s letter stated:
“I am happy to announce that on 16 September 2020, in accordance with a presidential decree, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine was tasked with transferring the Roman Catholic Church of St. Nicholas in Kyiv to the parish of St. Nicholas of the Kyiv-Zhytomyr Diocese for permanent and free use. This is a correct and fair decision the Catholic community has long awaited and an important step in strengthening our warm and friendly relations.”
Despite these official promises, the transfer was never implemented. The Court of Appeal has now confirmed that the return of the church is not only lawful but a moral act that honors Ukraine’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
The Catholic Community Stood Firm
The community remained steadfast, even amid long delays and neglect. Parishioners say repairs to the church were cosmetic at best, while its deeper needs were ignored. “We weren’t asking for privileges. We were standing up for our legal right—guaranteed by the Constitution,” said the church’s rector. “Today’s decision proves that truth can be defended.”
Fr. Vyshkovsky also thanked Judge Roman Golobutovsky of the Dnipropetrovsk Administrative Court for his principled ruling, which was upheld on appeal.
With the legal process complete, the Catholic community now calls on the Ministry of Culture to act without delay and carry out the court’s decision. More than a legal matter, the official handover will restore faith—not only in institutions, but in justice itself.
By Pavlo Vyschovskyi, OMI
Published on the OMI World website
