Did you know?

  Lviv has one of the largest student populations of 200, 000 with 3 universities and is one of the most important education centres in Ukraine.

The Church of the Order of the Redemptionists, Lviv was created in 1913 by cardinal Andrei Sheptyts'kyi and was populated by monks of the Order of Holy Redeemer.

Their goal was to make the Orthodox religion accessible to the poorest in Lviv but during Communist times, the church in Lviv was closed. It was reopened again in the '90s and has resumed its activities.

This church is one of the oldest monasteries in Lviv, having been built in 1601. It was closed after the Second World War but was reopened in 1996 as a museum for Religious Baroque Sculptures. Some of the centrepieces are artworks by Johann George Pinsel which were saved from being destroyed in the 1960s by Communists. These vibrant artworks are now fully restored and on display to the public.

Address: no. 2 Lychakivska street

Built in 1897 at the foot of the Chernecha Hora Hill in Lviv, the Church of the Lord's Ascension replaced an old wooden church, one of Lviv's earliest examples of 'Lemky Churches'. It's replacement is much sturdier and made of strong Carpathian stone and with its distinctive green roofing, it is an iconic church in Lviv.

The design is centred around a primary bell tower in the centre with four halls/entrances adjoining. Regular services (Ukrainian Orthodox) are held here and all are welcome to visit.

Built in 1660, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Lviv is another early church of the city. The majority of icons within the church are not freestanding but painted on the walls and some of them were painted by Father Volodomyr who became Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church just after the Second World War. Address: 82a, Lychakivska Street

St. George's Cathedral in Lviv is probably one of the most iconic in the city. Attracting thousands of tourists every year with its grandeur and history; this grand piece of architecture dates back to the 1770's.

The Cathedral represents the coalition between the Ukraine Catholic-Greek Church and the Catholic Church and was built in honour of this agreement between the two sects. As a result, the architecture within the Cathedral is very much Western influenced with its baroque and rococo designs. St. George's Cathedral in Lviv was restored in 1996 on the eve of its 400th birthday by a team of professionals.

As well as celebrating the coalition, St. George's Cathedral replaced a much more ancient version that was destroyed by invaders. The earliest version has been said to date back to the 11th Century from the old Ukrainian Gaiician-Volyn' state and was located on St. George's Mountain.

Some of Ukraine's most revered figures within the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church are buried in this church.

Built in 1349, The Latin Cathedral is one of the most important Catholic churches in Lviv. Throughout the ages and according to the tastes of the resident Bishops, the Latin Cathedral has undergone various restyles and renovations. It is now an eclectic mix of some of the most popular designs from the last 700 years and has over time, has become home to some of Ukraine's most important religious artefacts.

Many of these precious items are displayed at the central altar of the Church, the most famous being the icon of Virgin Mary the Gentle which is said to make miracles.

St. Andrew's church was originally an ornate wooden building but over time, a beautiful stone fa?ade covered the wooden areas. It was ta

It is said that St. Andrews Church in Lviv was originally built by Saint Jan of Dukta and has produced some famous bishops and cardinals of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic church, most notably Andrei Sheptyski.

St. Jan of Dukla is now buried within the church and there are numerous icons in his honour as the church was renowned as being an important base when Lviv was at war with invaders.

St. Michael's Church in Lviv was originally built as a Roman Catholic Church in the late 1600's and was known the Barefooted Carmelite Monastery. It was renamed as St. Michael's in honour of the Ukrainian St. Michael, protector of the Lord's Grave. In 1991, the Church was given to the monks of Ukrainian Greek-Catholic order of Studite.

The Church is still a functioning monastery and the monks from the Studite Order are active within the local community and also arrange missions.

A visit to St. Michael's is certainly recommended as it has some exquisite wall paintings, done is 1731 and a unique main altar of marble. The altar is a scale version of a small church and very ornate.

Up until the 1800's, the Virgin Mary's Assumption Church in Lviv was one of the tallest buildings in Lviv, towering over everything else with its ornate spire (known as Kornyakt's Tower). It is regarded as one of the most important centres of Orthodox Christian culture within Ukraine and founding place of the Lviv Orthodox Brotherhood.

Between the first and second World Wars, the church received new stained glass windows (designed by Petro Khlodnyi) illustrating the history of Ukrainian churches and religion history.

The Church of the Blessed Eucharist is another iconic example of Lviv's taste for grand, baroque architecture. It features ornate stone work done by some of Ukraine's most skilled stone masons at the time and today has become a popular tourist attraction.

There was a much older Gothic Roman Catholic church originally on the site which was damaged during the conflict, later being replaced by this grander building.

The Church's biggest claim to fame was that for many years, the famous sculpture; the Virgin Mary of Alabaster was kept here until it was taken to Krakow, its current home. Many interesting artefacts still remain within the Church.

After St. George's Cathedral, the Armenian Church is undoubtedly one of Lviv's most famous heritage sites. The Armenian Church in Lviv is one of the cities oldest churches (built in 1363) and while deceptively austere on the outside, it is very ornate inside with gold plated ceiling designs and ancient wall paintings.

There is an old cemetery with the church that dates back to before its construction and a beautiful small wooden chapel in the courtyard, built in the 18th Century.

The Armenian Church is located in the former Armenian quarter of Lviv and the city has always been one of the most popular places for Armenians to live. The street the church is on is a popular property hotspot as it is still very quiet and private. The church itself is accessed via two small tunnels and the building can be seen from quite a way off due to its distinctive tower (an addition from 1571).

Services are still held at the Armenian Church however; it was closed for the last 60 years due to fears that its precious artefacts would be damaged or stolen. The items are now stored elsewhere and the church is open again to the public.

The Armenian Church in Lviv is located on no. 7 Virmeska street.

A relatively new church, the Church of Transfiguration in Lviv was first opened in 1906 (construction started in 1851) originally as a Greek- Catholic church. It was then used as a Roman Catholic church before being returned to the Ukrainian Greek- Catholic diocese in 1989; it was the first church to be returned.

The church is a treasure trove of religious artwork, icons and paintings dating back well before the church was built. Primarily painted in a powdery blue, golf leaf and various wall paintings make this one of the city's most popular tourist sites. With its high ceilings and imposing double bell towers, it is highly decorated example of Ukraine's Orthodox churches.

The Church of Transfiguration is located on 21 Krakivska Street, Lviv.

Built in 1903, this imposing Gothic building was built in the memory of Austrian princess Elizabeth when Lviv was still within the Austrian empire (and known and Lemsburg). After the first World War, then Church was not being used and was given to the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church and the Saint's name 'Olha' was added to its title.

The Church of St. Olha and Elizabeth is well located in the Western section of Lvov city, on the watershed of the Dniester and Buh rivers. The Polish architect T. Talowski and the church was designed to popular Western Austrian tastes at the time.

Dating back to the 17th Century, the Church if St. Anna is still a popular Orthodox church and in its early life, was the favoured church of tailors!

The Church became home to the Icon of Our Lady and believers flocked here to experience its supposed miracle healing powers. The Communists shortly after coming to power closed the church down and it was only reopened (after restoration) in the early 1990's.

Address: 32, Horodotska street.

Built:1242.

Address: Bogdan Khmelnytsky str. , 28a

St. Nicholas' church is believed to be the oldest functioning Orthodox church in Lviv and it dates back to the year 1242. Services are regularly held in this atmospheric small church and all are welcome to come.

It is home to the Icon of St. Nicholas which is said to work healing miracles and many people visit this church as part of religious pilgrimage.

Address: Bogdan Khmelnytsky str., no. 77. Also knows as "The Church of Holy Great-Martyr Parascevia".

St. Parascevia church was built on the site of a much earlier Orthodox church and some of the stones of the original were used in the construction of this grander edifice.

The Church of St. Parascevia is most famous for its large collection of ancient icons and religious paintings. In fact, it has one of the largest collections of icons and religious artwork in Lviv.

Built:1550.

Address: Bogdan Khmelnytsky str., 36

St. Onuphrius is a functioning Monastery aswell as a church and its history goes back to ancient Rus times. It soon became the epicenter of Ukrainian Religious life and was where Ukraine's first book was published. The monks living there dedicated most of their time to study and to creating books after this.

After the Second World War, both the monastery and the church were closed and shortly after, returned to the Vasylians' Order in 1990 where it is still in use now.

No. 1 Mariji Snizhnoji street

When Lviv was part of the Austrian Empire, this church was originally constructed in a Protestant style. After II W.W. it was closed and when Ukraine gained independence, it was restored and reopened as a Greek-Catholic church.

Built in 1642-1692. Address: Vynnychenka str., 30.

The old church of the Lord's Presentation in Lviv city was erected in the XVII century, bears a striking resemblance to Santa Susanna's church in Rome. In 1927 the coronation of the icon of Virgin's Unwearying Help took place here. This icon was blessed in Rome.

Situated in the Eastern quarter of Lviv city, St. Anthony's church is one of three functioning Roman Catholic Churches. It has been constructed in the popular Lviv Baroque style which is very much reflected in the interior design of the building.

Built: 1610-1635.

Address: Teatralna str., 13. The Church of St. Apostoles Peter and Paul.

The Jesuit Cahedral is a fabulous example of Lviv Baroque style and was erected at the time when the Jesuit Order was consolidating its position in the Western Ukraine.

At first, the Jesuits built a modest wooden church in Lviv in 1584 but in 1608 they opened a college attached to it and two years later began constructing the grandiose Church of St.Peter and St.Paul which was intended to enhance the Order's prestige.

Between 1612- 1614 the work was supervised by a monk Sebastian Lamhius and Antoni Ragonius, and later by Jacopo Briano, who had built many Jesuit Churches in Poland and Germany.

The design of Cathedral is reminiscent of Il Gesu Church in Rome. By 1630 the construction of the church was virtually completed.

Adjacent to the Cathedral is the building of the Jesuit College, dating from 1723. The College was set up in 1608. According to some sources, among its students was Bohdan Khmelnytskyj.

On January 20th 1661 by special decree of the Polish King John Kazimiers it was converted into a university.

This date is considered to be the foundation date of Lviv University as institution. Later the L'viv University has moved to the former building of Seim (Parliament) of Galicia and Lodomeria.

The church has a hundred-metre-high tower, the highest in the entire history of Lviv, was finally finished only in 1702. Its belfry, 100 meters high, dominated the city until it was taken down in 1830 due to safety reasons.

Built in the year 1885. Located on Ivana Franka street, no. 56

The Church of Virgin Mary's Immaculate Conception was built to be able to reach the poorest in Lviv city. In 1913, bishop Andrei Sheptyts'ki invited monks from the Order of the Holy Redeemer to take on this task. They soon became known as the 'Redemptorists' and their plight still continues today.

It is relatively modest in size compared to many other churches and cathedrals in Lviv however; it is still in regular use today and anyone is welcome to attend its services.

It is an Orthodox church.