"Without the UOC": The Lutsk City Council of Churches Resumes Its Work

In Lutsk, after a long hiatus, a decision was made to resume the activities of the City Council of Churches. Andriy Razumovsky, the acting mayor of Lutsk, announced the start of cooperation with the city’s religious communities; his remarks were reported by the VolynPost portal.

During the recent meeting, participants discussed ways to strengthen communication and future joint initiatives. In particular, city officials invited clergy to participate in preparations for the upcoming holidays. The main festive venue this year will be Zamkova Square, where a Christmas village featuring a main Christmas tree, a fair, and festive lights will open on December 6.

Andriy Razumovsky emphasized that the participation of religious organizations in holiday events is extremely important for maintaining unity in society. “It is important that during these difficult times we preserve unity, support one another, and pray together for Ukraine, our defenders, and peace,” the official noted, expressing gratitude to representatives of the clergy for their willingness to engage in dialogue and constructive cooperation.

At the same time, city officials completely ignored and failed to invite representatives of the Volyn Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church—one of the key denominations in Lutsk—to participate in the event. It is worth noting that in 2025, during a session of the Lutsk City Council, a demand was made to exclude a representative of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the local Council of Churches.