Court denies MinCulture’s request to evict Yelets Monastery in Chernihiv

Dormition Yelets Monastery in Chernihiv. Photo: UOC Information and Education Department

On July 28, 2025, the Commercial Court of the Chernihiv Region rejected a lawsuit filed by the National Architectural and Historical Reserve "Ancient Chernihiv" – a body under Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture – seeking the eviction of the nuns from the Yelets Convent. This was reported by the UOC’s Information and Education Department.

According to the court’s decision, the Chernihiv Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will continue to use part of the monastery complex – including the buildings housing the convent’s residents – free of charge.

Currently, 45 nuns reside in the monastery. The eldest among them are 92, 90, and 84 years old.

“The nuns are of very advanced age. Many are ill. There is even a separate room for bedridden residents,” representatives of the religious community noted.

The monastery also recalled that the right to use the buildings was granted by a resolution of the Chernihiv Regional Council Executive Committee dated December 31, 1991.

It is noted that the full text of the court decision will be published on August 7.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Supreme Court denied the Ministry of Culture’s appeal and ordered the transfer of St. Nicholas Church in Kyiv to the Roman Catholic Church.

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