Court demands UOC to hand over 15th century church in Sutkivtsi to state
The UOC church in the village of Sutkivtsi, Khmelnytskyi region. Photo: wikipedia.org
On March 6, 2024, the Khmelnytskyi Court of Appeal ordered the UOC community to vacate the 15th-century church-fortress in the village of Sutkivtsi, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, and "transfer" it to the state. This was reported by the court's press service.
Earlier, the court of first instance ordered the UOC to transfer the church to the state, but its rector disagreed with this decision and filed an appeal.
Representatives of the Khmelnytskyi Regional State Administration stated in court that the UOC community used the church "without any title documents or contracts and did not respond to demands to vacate the premises voluntarily."
At the same time, the judges who made the decision to transfer the church to the state stated that in the village, "there are two communities that can apply to the church owner for permission to use it."
However, the judges did not specify which communities they were referring to and to which denomination they belonged.
As the UOJ reported, the court demanded that the UOC vacate the premises of the Yelets Convent.
Read also
Greece signs memorandum on protection of Jerusalem Patriarchate's shrines
Next week, the Greek Parliament will ratify a document on the protection of the cultural heritage of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
Greek bishop calls imposition of same-sex marriage a threat
Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera urged families to become a “domestic church” amid threats to the Christian family in Greek laws and school curricula.
Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Budapest for opening of Orthodox center
The Ecumenical Patriarch has arrived in Hungary, where he will preside over the consecration of the Orthodox center "Phanarion."
OCU raiders stage attack on seized church in Kyiv, media
OCU "hierarch" Serhiy Horobtsov published a provocative post online regarding St. John's Church in Bykivnia seized by his people.