Court transfers dilapidated Catholic church to Lviv region community
A court in the Lviv region has transferred ownership of a deteriorating Catholic church built in the 1920s to the local community, paving the way for its restoration.
The Pustomyty District Court in Ukraine's Lviv region has transferred the deteriorating Church of St. Mary Magdalene in the village of Vovkiv to the Solonka territorial community. The ruling was issued on October 26, 2026, following a lawsuit filed by the regional prosecutor's office, Zaxid.net reports.
The Roman Catholic church was built between 1924 and 1929. Covering more than 423 square meters, it is considered one of the region's finest examples of Art Deco architecture and is listed on the local register of architectural monuments.
The building is now in a state of severe disrepair. Approximately 70% of its roof has collapsed, while its brick vaults, ceilings, and floors have sustained damage. The church has been out of use since the 1990s, and no restoration work has been carried out during that time.
The historic building was previously registered as unclaimed property after no one came forward to assert ownership within a year. However, its transfer to municipal ownership was never formally completed.
Prosecutors believe that transferring the church to the local community will enable local authorities to manage the property, secure restoration funding, and save the historic building from further deterioration.
The UOJ previously reported that Poland would fund the restoration of a Catholic church in the Lviv region.
