Walking through the city, it is hard not to notice the towering 25-meter Gothic church that stands out among the surrounding architecture. Today, the former Lutheran church belongs to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic community and serves as the Church of Saint Josaphat, while the pastor’s house has been transformed into a Basilian monastery.

The Lutheran church is yet another testament to Volodymyr’s rich multicultural and multireligious history. It also bears witness to the migration of Western European settlers, particularly Germans, to Ukrainian lands, including Volyn. The first foreign colony in the Volodymyr district was established in 1787 by settlers from the Netherlands. The largest wave of German emigration to Volyn occurred between 1860 and 1880. By 1890, German colonists had built their own church—the kirche—in Volodymyr.

The funds for the Lutheran church were collected by the entire community. Wealthy landowners donated 100 zlotyh each month, while poorer peasants contributed 10. With these funds, a Neo-Gothic basilica was constructed, accompanied by an elegant pastor’s house. In 1929, an organ was installed in the church.

Although Volodymyr no longer has the thriving Lutheran community it did a century ago, this church remains a vivid Gothic accent in the city’s architectural landscape.