In Chernihiv region, 28 religious communities “transferred” from UOC to OCU

As of November 1, 2024, 28 religious communities in the Chernihiv region were “transferred” from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the OCU. This is the number of religious communities that have changed their jurisdictional affiliation in the region since February 2022. This is reported by the regional publication Chas Chernihivskyi.

“As of November 1, 2024, since the full-scale invasion, 28 religious communities in the region have officially completed all legal procedures to change their jurisdiction from the UOC to the OCU,” – said Lyudmila Zamay, head of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Nationalities and Religions of the Chernihiv Regional State Administration.

The official added that Ukraine can be proud of its religious freedom, since “not a single church in Ukraine is closed.”

“Ukraine was and is proud of its achievements in the field of religious freedom. It had neither banned churches nor closed churches. The Russian invasion, in which the Russian Orthodox Church took an active part, forced Ukraine to protect itself from the abuse and manipulation of religion by the aggressor state,” – says Liudmyla Zamay.

As reported, on November 1, 2024, a film screening was held in the ancient Transfiguration Cathedral of Chernihiv, which was taken over from the Chernihiv Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The event was organized by the National Architectural and Historical Reserve “Chernihiv Ancient”. In addition, an exhibition was organized in the church.