Vladimir city authorities plan to transfer chapel seized from UOC to OCU

In Volodymyr (Volyn region), the process of transferring the chapel in honor of St. Prince Volodymyr, the Equal-to-the-Apostles, which previously belonged to the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, to the OCU is actively underway. After the expulsion of the UOC from the Holy Dormition Cathedral, the community of the canonical Church prayed for some time in the said religious building, but later lost access to it.

According to Bug.org.ua, on March 3, during a briefing, Mayor Ihor Palonka informed the public about the current state of affairs. He noted that the work with the documents is in an active phase.

«A technical passport has been developed for the chapel, and accounting documentation has been developed. Now we have ordered a monetary valuation. Once the monetary valuation is made, we will submit these documents to the Department of Culture of the Regional State Administration,» the mayor said. Palyonka emphasized that without these documents, registration is impossible, since the regional council has direct authority to re-register the building in favor of the OCU.

As reported, on the morning of October 10, 2025, the executive service initiated the process of forced eviction of the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the complex of occupied premises, which includes the Holy Dormition Cathedral, the diocesan administration and the theological school. The police cordoned off the area and did not allow believers to enter the church, while an «inventory of property» was conducted in the Cathedral itself. Later, the church and other premises were sealed and access to them was restricted.