Ivano-Frankivsk Eparchy denies accusations of "appropriation" of cathedral

The Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ of the UOC in Ivano-Frankivsk. Photo: pravlife.org

The Ivano-Frankivsk Eparchy of the UOC commented on the statement by the mayor of the regional centre Ruslan Martsynkiv, that a court obliged the police to open a criminal case in connection with the alleged "appropriation" of the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ by the UOC believers.

"The accusations against the religious community of the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ of the UOC in Ivano-Frankivsk that they allegedly illegally seized the church are groundless and fabricated," the statement published on the Eparchy's website said. "In this case, there is a raid seizure of the religious community by supporters of the OCU and its illegal reregistration with the aim of seizing the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ, which belongs to the UOC believers on legal grounds and was also built by them with their own donations."

The Eparchy emphasized that the community of the Cathedral did not make any decisions to change jurisdiction.

"The decision to allegedly change subordination was made by third parties who do not belong to the religious community and who are now attempting to seize the only church belonging to the UOC believers. Therefore, the UOC religious community is defending its rights and appealing the illegal decision in court!" the statement said.

The Eparchy appealed to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to protect the constitutional right of the Cathedral's parishioners to freedom of religion and called on local self-government bodies to stop violating the rights of UOC believers and religious communities.

As reported, in April 2022, the mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk stated that the community of the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ had submitted documents to the regional state administration on changing jurisdiction, and in June announced the re-registration of the parish to the OCU. The community filed a complaint with law enforcement agencies regarding the commission of a criminal offence – the unlawful registration of a new version of the parish statute based on a fake protocol of the parish assembly.

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