OCU establishes 'legal clone' of UOC-seized nunnery in Chernihiv region

The Synod of the OCU has decided to create a new religious association, the Baturyn Mykola-Krupytsky Monastery. This event took place shortly after the authorities evicted nuns of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) from the Krupytsia St. Nicholas Monastery, located in the Chernihiv region.

According to the press service of the OCU, on February 2, 2026, the Synod of the organization decided to form this structure as part of the Chernihiv Diocese. The decision adopted by the Synod literally reads: “To establish the religious organization ‘Baturyn Mykola-Krupytsky Monastery of the Chernihiv Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Orthodox Church of Ukraine)’ as part of the Chernihiv Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Orthodox Church of Ukraine).”

The head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko, appointed the head of the Chernihiv Diocese of the OCU, Anthony Firley, as the rector of the newly created “monastery”.

Earlier, we reported that an incident occurred in the National Historical and Cultural Reserve “Hetman’s Capital” with the eviction of the sisters of the Baturyn Krupytsia St. Nicholas Convent of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Chernihiv region). According to representatives of the monastery, the actions were carried out without a court decision and with the participation of law enforcement agencies, despite the existence of a valid agreement for the use of the premises and the official registration of the nuns at their place of residence.