Page "Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev" Paragraph 11

Since the late 1980s Soviet, and later Ukrainian, politicians promised to return the building to the Orthodox Church.

Due to various schisms and factions within the Church the return was postponed as all Orthodox and the Greek-Catholic Churches lay claim to it.

Although all of the Orthodox churches have been allowed to conduct services at different dates, at other times they are denied access.

Most memorable was the funeral of Patriarch Volodymyr of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchy in 1995, when riot police were forced to prevent the burial on the premises of the museum and a bloody clash took place.

After events such as those no religious body has yet been given the rights for regular services.

The complex now remains a museum of Ukraine's Christianity, with most of its visitors being tourists.