Court of Appeals denies UOC right to pray in ancient churches of Chernihiv

The Trinity Monastery of Chernihiv. Photo: wikimedia.org

The Northern Economic Court of Appeals dismissed the latest appeal by the administration of the Chernihiv Eparchy of the UOC against the decision of the Economic Court of the Chernihiv Region, which rejected a claim to extend the right to use the Transfiguration Cathedral and the complex of buildings of the Trinity Monastery, including the eparchial cathedral, as reported on the Ministry of Culture's website on 23 July 2024.

"The administration of the Chernihiv Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church appealed to the court with demands to compel the National Architectural and Historical Reserve 'Ancient Chernihiv' to extend the agreements for free use of the national architectural monument," the ministry's statement said.

It was noted that the court of appeals confirmed that the administration of the Chernihiv Eparchy of the UOC does not have legal grounds to use state-owned property free of charge.

In Chernihiv, the Transfiguration Cathedral, from which the UOC community was expelled in October 2023, was opened to visitors for the first time on June 28. There will now be a fee to enter the Orthodox shrine.

As reported by the UOJ, in March, representatives of the National Reserve "Ancient Chernihiv" along with people in military uniform closed the Chernihiv Holy Trinity complex, sealed the entrance and the buildings on its territory. The relics of Chernihiv saints Theodosius and Philaret, as well as St Laurence of Chernihiv, are located in the Trinity Monastery. The reserve stated that they are "supervising" the shrines, but have not yet decided on the plans for the Trinity Cathedral and declared that the UOC would not be able to return to the churches of Chernihiv "even if they pay rent".

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