The Church of St Nicholas in Kyiv sustained damage following a Russian missile strike on the capital. This was reported by the Roman Catholic parish of St Nicholas.
“This morning, as a result of a treacherous Russian missile strike on the capital, our already long-suffering St Nicholas Church was damaged. Around the church, windows in the towers have been shattered, some stained glass windows have fallen off… Windows on the towers that are waiting for the return of the crosses have been shattered. Unfortunately, the buildings near the church were damaged even more. We already know about one dead person and about a dozen injured,” the statement read.
Historical Significance of St Nicholas Church
- Built between 1899 and 1909 by Kyiv architect Vladislav Gorodetsky, the church was funded entirely by the Catholic community. It was one of the first buildings in Kyiv to use reinforced concrete during construction.
- During Soviet Era, the church was looted but not destroyed, repurposed for household needs. Its original frescoes and stained-glass windows did not survive.
- Since 1981, the church has also served as the National House of Organ and Chamber Music.
- Services resumed in 1992.
- In September 2021, the church was severely damaged by fire.
- In 2022, the Cabinet of Ministers included the church in Ukraine’s register of monuments and removed it from the list of Soviet-era architectural monuments.
- Emergency repairs were completed in January 2022, costing UAH 21.5 million, funded by charitable donations. The remaining UAH 5.6 million from the fundraising campaign was donated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
St Nicholas Church remains a symbol of Kyiv’s resilience and cultural heritage, despite repeated damage and adversity.
