A Wedding Celebration Held in St. Sophia of Kyiv on Good Friday — Ministry of Culture Launches Investigation

On April 18, 2025 — Good Friday, a day of solemn fasting and mourning for Christians — a wedding celebration took place on the grounds of the National Reserve “St. Sophia of Kyiv.” According to Oleksii Zhukov, head of the Department for Control and Supervision of Cultural Heritage Protection Legislation at the Ministry of Culture, a similar event was held the following day, on Holy Saturday. This was reported by the Ukrainian online media outlet Ukrainska Pravda.

Zhukov stated that in response to these incidents, the police were called and official complaints were filed. Law enforcement agencies are currently investigating the legality of holding such celebrations during the days of church mourning.

The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine has also established a special task force to review these cases and uncover any additional potential violations.

Zhukov noted that under the guise of “cultural and educational events,” the reserve had hosted not only weddings but also birthday parties and political gatherings. No official conclusions have been released yet, as audits and reviews are still ongoing.

Meanwhile, in the Upper Lavra — part of the Kyiv-Pechersk Reserve — theatrical performances featuring actors dressed as monks continue to take place. According to the organizers, the purpose is to educate visitors about the monastery’s history.

It is also worth noting that a major conflict erupted within the National Reserve “St. Sophia of Kyiv” after the dismissal of its general director, Neli Kukovalska. The institution’s staff — over 230 employees including historians, architects, archaeologists, and other professionals — appealed to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to protect the museum complex and support its leadership.