Sagrada Família in Barcelona changes "Kiev" to "Kíiv" on stained-glass window – photo

The spelling of Kyiv has been updated on a stained-glass window at Barcelona's world-famous Sagrada Família following appeals from the local Ukrainian community.

Source: Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reported by European Pravda

Details: At the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, one of the world's most renowned religious landmarks, the Russian-derived spelling "Kiev" on a stained-glass window has been replaced with "Kíiv".

The new stained-glass panel was installed in early June to coincide with Kyiv Day. The original panel was completely removed, and a replacement was produced in around six weeks.

The initiative was led by the head of a Ukrainian civil society organisation in Barcelona and was supported by the speaker of the Parliament of Catalonia, the basilica's team and the Consulate General of Ukraine in Barcelona.

"Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is systematically working to replace Russian transliterations with the correct Ukrainian ones in cities around the world and on geographical maps, while also supporting such initiatives by the Ukrainian community and friends of Ukraine," the ministry said.

Background:

• In 2019, a number of leading Western media outlets changed the spelling from "Kiev" to "Kyiv". The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also adopted the spelling "Kyiv".
• In February 2024, Germany's Federal Foreign Office announced that it would use the Ukrainian transliteration "Kyjiw" instead of "Kiew".

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