The long legal dispute between the association that had managed it since 1925 and the Russian state, which had claimed ownership and which had paralyzed any renovation initiative for several years, is now history.
This Orthodox place of worship has (finally!) regained all its splendor after more than two years of work and is set to become one of the most sought-after destinations by tourists as well as locals.
Indeed, no surprise there: Saint Nicholas is unanimously considered the most beautiful Russian church abroad and its worldwide renown is well-established.
The Orthodox building, constructed at the beginning of the 20th century, and its collection of 300 stunning icons are now open for religious services and tourist visits, estimated at more than 200,000 annually.
The Russian Federation, which was eager to reclaim possession of this architectural gem, built over a century ago and listed since 1987, funded the nearly 20 million dollars necessary.
Alexandre Orlov, the Russian ambassador to France, had the honor of welcoming the civil and religious authorities, including the Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, and the bishop of the diocese of Nice, Monsignor Marceau.
But, as the popular saying goes, church projects are perpetual: the next step is the creation of an underground parking lot.
