In Chernivtsi, the UOC community is forced to leave the church on the territory of the city hospital

Chernivtsi city authorities continue to put pressure on local parishes of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This time, the city council expels the UOC community in honor of the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon from the church located on the territory of the city hospital. According to the Chernivtsi City Council, the UOC believers had to leave the church last year, as the lease agreement for the church was terminated between the religious organization and the city authorities. Since the UOC still uses the religious building, the religious community was even fined 140 thousand hryvnias. This was reported by Suspilne.Chernivtsi.

It is reported that on April 27, 2023, at a session of the city council, deputies supported the decision to terminate the lease. At the same time, the agreement is considered extended for the period of martial law and for four months from the date of termination or lifting of martial law. Therefore, the religious organization filed a lawsuit against the city council to recognize the agreement as extended. However, the courts confirmed that the agreement was terminated on November 30, 2021 (i.e., the date of approval of the Regulation on the lease of property belonging to the communal property of the Chernivtsi community): by the decision of the Economic Court of Chernivtsi region and the decision of the Western Economic Court of Appeal.

We will resolve everything in court, within the framework of the law. We plan to appeal the decisions. For now, we ask that we use the premises carefully while the court cases are pending, with respect for each other, we understand everything,” commented the rector of the church, Archpriest Georgy Aronets.

Earlier, the rector of the church, Archpriest Georgy Aronets , said in a commentary that he considered the termination of the lease agreement with the religious community to be a wrong decision, because the church was built with the money of the parishioners and, in his opinion, the lease should not have been terminated until the end of martial law.