The Prosecutor's Office is trying to seize the UOC church in the center of Odessa through the court

The Economic Court of Cassation in Kiev will consider a case on the ownership of the church of the Odessa diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in honor of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God «Znameniye». The prosecutor’s office insists on recognizing the building as state property, despite the fact that earlier courts of two instances confirmed the ownership of the religious community. This was told by the lawyer of the UOC Archpriest Nikita Chekman.

It is reported that the interests of the diocese in this dispute is represented by the law office of Archpriest Nikita Chekman. Earlier, the judicial bodies of the first and appellate instances ruled in favor of the Church, but the prosecution filed a cassation appeal. Lawyers emphasize that this process is of fundamental importance, as it directly affects the fundamental rights of religious communities to own their property.

The hearing on the case is scheduled for March 25, 2026 and will be held in the Cassation Economic Court at 6 Kopilenko Street, Kyiv. Representatives of the clergy and human rights activists urge believers to support the parish by prayer and personal presence at the public hearing.

Recall, earlier it was reported that the Ministry of Education of Ukraine planned to expropriate the temple of the Odessa diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God «Znameniye», located in the premises of the Odessa Trade and Economic College. It is reported that the courts are still in progress over this religious building and there is a risk that the Odessa diocese will lose the church on December 3.