"Shalom, Orthodox Christians!": Stryi Authorities Plan to Restore a 19th-Century Synagogue

The city authorities of Stryi have officially confirmed plans to preserve and restore the Great Synagogue, which is one of the largest surviving historic buildings of its kind in western Ukraine. The city council has already signed a memorandum of cooperation with the “Spadshchyna.UA” charitable foundation, which aims to transform the architectural monument into a modern cultural center.

The building, constructed in the 19th century, has been in a state of disrepair for many years. During the Soviet era, it was used as a warehouse, and the removal of the roof in the 1980s led to the accelerated deterioration of the structure. Currently, the initiators of the project, “ ,” are seeking investors and partners to carry out the restoration work.

Anna Gavriliv, director of the “Spadshchyna.UA” Foundation, noted that the project is based on the concept of adaptive reuse of the site. This means that the restorers aim not only to preserve the monument’s historical appearance but also to transform it into a functional resource for the development of the local community. According to experts, this approach will ensure the synagogue has a long-term future within the city’s modern context.

As a reminder, in the Chernivtsi region , a critical deterioration in the condition of the historic St. Alexander Nevsky Church in the city of Khotyn has been documented; the church had previously been seized from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church community. Deep cracks have appeared on the facade of the historic building, and the surrounding area has fallen into disrepair.