The Cultural-Religious Transformations of the Monastic Church of the Order of Franciscan Sisters in Lviv: From Catholic to Orthodox Governance through Soviet Desacralization

Abstract

The objective of the study is a thorough analysis of the use of the church by various institutions: by the Franciscan Sisters of the Roman Catholic Church, by Soviet state institutions, and by the community of the Orthodox Church, as well as the transformations of its sacred space resulting from this process. The methodology is based on principles of scientific impartiality, employing problem-chronological, comparative-historical, and culturological approaches. The relevance is determined by the need for a comprehensive and multifaceted representation of the institutions that used the church and the dynamics of changes in the sacred space. The novelty lies in the fact that an extensive analysis of this topic has never been the subject of scholarly investigation. The main results consist of the reconstruction of the history of the church’s functioning, the identification of changes caused by political and religious factors, and the scale of destruction during the Soviet period. It is noted that the contemporary Orthodox community, cooperating with local authorities and patrons, has preserved the church’s functionality, restored its identity, and promotes it as a cultural and religious heritage site. Further research should be directed toward a comprehensive analysis of changes in other buildings of this sacred complex, where the Lviv Orthodox Theological Academy and the Monastery of St. John Chrysostom are currently located, taking into account their historical condition, changes during the Soviet era, and recent restoration works.