Court transfers UOC St. Michael’s Church in Horodyshche to Culture Ministry

St. Michael’s Church of the UOC in Horodyshche. Photo: Wikimedia

The Commercial Court of Cherkasy Region has ruled to transfer St. Michael’s Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in the city of Horodyshche, Cherkasy District, into state ownership, according to the regional news outlet Procherk.

The motion to transfer ownership of the church building to the state was filed by the Smila District Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors claimed that the UOC religious community had illegally acquired ownership of the church in May 2018.

“Once the court decision enters into force, the right to manage and determine the method of administration of this state property will be granted to the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine,” the ruling states.

As previously reported by the UOJ, the attempted seizure of St. Michael’s Church has involved the biological brother of the parish’s rector.

Read also

US helps restore Orthodox church in Turkey after earthquake

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.

Kamianske Eparchy commemorates New Martyr Ioann Mohylevsky