“If they resist, we will evict them by force": MP speaks about the future of the Cathedral of the UOC Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese

Ukrainian MP Ihor Huz spoke about the future of the Holy Assumption Cathedral in Volodymyr-Volynskyi, which also houses the diocesan administration and a theological school. According to the MP, the public expects that after the court decision to transfer the complex to state ownership, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church should voluntarily leave the premises and not organize resistance. Otherwise, the deputy threatens that he will attract several hundred people from the “patriotic community” who will ensure the transfer of the Cathedral to the state and the OCU. He said this in an interview with Radio BUG.

“I did everything possible to make this happen, because it was actually the state that sued the Church. This is the property of the state. Therefore, my team and I supported the state in this context. My assistants were constantly at the courts. Roughly speaking, from a political and public point of view, we did not put pressure, but accompanied this story. […] I hope that after the state, represented by the SBU, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Regional State Administration, ensures the transfer of this property to the ownership of the Historical and Cultural Reserve in the near future, a service led by Metropolitan Epifaniy will be held there. This, so to speak, will sanctify the transition of this building from the rule of the Russian Church to the OCU. It is not yet clear who will own the property in the future. It will belong to the state and the Historical and Cultural Reserve will take care of it, but I think that sooner or later this issue will also be considered,” – the deputy said.

When asked by a journalist what would happen if the religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church tried to defend the Assumption Cathedral and prevent its transfer to state ownership, the deputy replied that such a scenario was unlikely. However, if this happens, Ihor Huz threatened to involve several hundred people from the “patriotic community” to evict the priests and believers of the UOC by force.

“Ukrainian patriots in Volyn will not allow anyone to organize resistance. There is a court decision – it must be fulfilled. I think it’s 99.9% certain that after the court decision is in the hands of the regional state administration, they will ensure that this building becomes the property of the Historical and Cultural Reserve. No one is interested in any confrontation, but if someone interferes, we will do everything we can with the help of the public – a few hundred people will be enough – to ensure that the state enters the territory of its property,” – the deputy summarized.

As reported, on March 12, 2025, the Rivne Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and upheld the decision of the first instance to expropriate the complex of premises of the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr-Volynskyi, which also houses the diocesan administration and theological school.