How the authorities got stuck in the struggle with the UOC in Kremenets

We are informed that the Epiphany Nunnery of the UOC in Kremenets (Ternopil region) will soon be cut off from the electricity/gas/water supply. We would like to remind you that the local complex of buildings of St. Nicholas Cathedral, which houses the Kremenets Regents’ School, has been treated in the same way. In this way the authorities are trying to “smoke” the nuns out of the monastery. However, there is one important peculiarity.

During numerous committee meetings of the city authorities regarding the future St. Nicholas Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, it became clear that there is simply no one to hand it over to. Local representatives of the OCU and UGCC categorically refused to give up the temple, stating that they have no claims to it. Similarly, they do not want to get involved with the complex of buildings of the Epiphany Monastery. The reason is simple – neither one nor the other has enough supporters in Kremenets and the district to maintain these religious buildings. The complexes, it should be said, are very impressive in size and require constant maintenance and, accordingly, financial investments.

Besides, Kremenets is not Kiev, and it is unlikely that anyone will be attracted to organize any classical music concert or any of the things that the Ministry of Culture now offers on the territory of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. It is extremely difficult to call this town a tourist mecca, and any tourist activity in Kremenets is created by the UOC pilgrimage groups passing through it on their way to Pochaev.

Thus, the situation with the expropriation of the property of the Church in Kremenets has reached a stalemate. By and large, the state could realize an aggressive raider seizure, with the participation of tour operators and paid radicals, but everyone understands perfectly well that after that the Monastery and Cathedral will have to be closed, which will hardly help to keep these monuments in proper condition.