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The museum of the history of religion

The museum of the history of religion in Lvov is the place where you can see the development of all kinds of religions in the world as well as the activity of church organizations.

This museum is located in the building of the Dominican Cathedral – one of the oldest shrines of XIV-XVIII centuries. The museum features the items of Ukrainian and worldwide religion starting from the ancient times till the end of XX century. There is also a big religious library (more than 150000 items). There is also a big collection of Bibles and Torus. Also you can see the earliest Bible printed by Ivan Fedorov and of course there is the organ hall.

The funds of the library count more than 50000 items. Among them you can find the exhibits that have very important religious, artistic and historical value. The museum of religion in Lvov has a great collection of icons of XVI-XIX centuries, the “Judaic treasure” of XVII-XIX, collection of Bibles and Torus, collection of ancient printed books of XVI-XVIII centuries. Among the most valuable books you may find the Ostroj Bible by Ivan Fedorov, Book of Needs by Petro Mohyla, the reliquary of St.Aronty XI century.

There are a few departments in the museum: “the religions of the ancient world”, “Judaism”, “Early Christianity” , “Armenian church” , “The history of Roman Catholic church” , “The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church” , “Orthodoxy in Ukraine” , “Protestantism”, “Islam”, “Buddhism”.

The first department - the religions of ancient world – features the religious items that show the beliefs of our ancestors (magic, the culture of the nature, fetishism, totemism, animism). There you can observe the particularities of religion in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, the system of beliefs of west Slavic peoples (including Ukrainians). There are also items that demonstrate the devil beliefs: faith in ghosts, in dead relatives, in animals.

The next department – Judaism – demonstrates the religion of ancient Israelite. The feature of this exhibition is the unique collection of Torus rolls; there are a few publications that date back to XVII-XX centuries, ritual and synagogical objects, sculptures, paintings and graphic canvas. The Early Christianity is one of the main religions in the world. It was taken as foundation for the formation of the western civilization. In this department you will see premises that brought us to the Christianity. You will observe: Old Believer’s icon from Bela Krinitsa, Old TestamentTrinity (XVII), St.Ilia icon, “The Fiery rise of prophet Ilii to the sky” (XIX), Gospel that was printed in Lvov in the XIX century, the icon to Virgin Hodegetria with prophets, the icon “Sacred Dinner” (XVII century), the icon “Holy Trinity” (XIX) and others.

The Armenian Church department shows the development of the religion in Ukraine and in the whole world. It demonstrates the periods of formation and development of the religion, and the common and different traits between Christianity and Armenian Church.

The history of Roman Catholic Church will tell you about the main dogmas of Catholic churches (Holy Writ), the principles of spreading the Catholic faith in Ukraine. There are some unique pieces that will be of particular interest to visitors: Bible (Paris, 1563), works of Pope Grigoriy I (Paris, 1705), Foma Akvintskiy (Paris, 1889), pieces created by many famous painters: Yablonskiy and Tchekhov.

Ukrainia Greek Catholic church was created by Brest union, was widely spread on the territory of Ukraine, was liquidated in 1946 in one of the Cathedrals in Lvov. It has been restored in the recent years. The most famous exhibits of the department – works by Sosenko – Gospel (1780) printed in the Pochaev monastery.

The Orthodox department. It presents the history of Orthodox Church from the very beginning (998 when the Kiev Rus was baptized) till nowadays. The visitors will be definitely astonished with the collection of icons, holy books and paintings.

And last two departments: Protestantism and Eastern religion. These items will show you the history of development of different eastern religions (Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Daoism) in the whole world and in Ukraine particularly. 

Ticket cost: 5UAN per adult, 2UAN per child. 

Guide: 35UAN per adult, 15UAN per child. 

On last Fridays of each month the entrance is free for students and schoolchildren. 

Telephone: (+38 032) 235 60 32

Address: Muzeina Street 1

Hours: 10am-6pm every day except Mondays.