Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC Appeals to Officials Regarding the Protection of Land Rights

Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy and Kaniv has called on officials in the Cherkasy region to prevent the potential illegal seizure of property belonging to the Cherkasy Diocese. In his appeal, he expressed concern over the recent decision of the Cherkasy City Council to confiscate land plots owned by the church. The metropolitan stated that this decision is illegal and an attempt to deprive the UOC of its lawful property. The appeal was published on the channel «Cherkasy Blagovestnik.»

«There are no grounds for confiscating the land plots of the Cherkasy Diocese, as these plots are used for the construction of temple complexes, which are the property of our church,» emphasized the metropolitan. He also noted that the confiscation of the land was not approved in a court of law, and no lawsuits regarding this issue have been filed.

In his appeal, the hierarch addressed the head of the Cherkasy Regional Military Administration, the head of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Cherkasy region, and the heads of the regional prosecutor’s office, requesting them to prevent the crime that is being prepared. He stated that the possible seizure of property, violating the legal rights of the UOC, should be classified as a criminal offense.

«If attempts to seize churches and land plots with the support of local officials take place, it will be considered a crime, for which both the perpetrators and the officials who failed to take preventive measures will be held accountable,» stressed the Metropolitan of Cherkasy and Kaniv.

Metropolitan Theodosius also drew attention to the activities of the head of the OCU in Cherkasy, Ioann Yaremenko, who, according to him, is the ultimate beneficiary of the raider seizures of UOC property in Cherkasy and the region. He noted that the OCU is supported by local authorities in its attempts to illegally seize UOC property.

«This is not just an attempt to confiscate land. It is part of a larger plan aimed at undermining the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and destroying spiritual unity in our country,» stated the metropolitan.

He called on all officials in Cherkasy to use all their powers to protect the legal rights of religious communities, to prevent violations of religious freedoms, and to ensure the adherence to Ukrainian legislation regarding matters of faith.

It is worth reminding that the head of the Cherkasy Diocese of the OCU, Ioann Yaremenko, announced the seizure of two more churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Cherkasy. The churches in question are dedicated to the Nativity of Christ and St. Andrew the First-Called. Yaremenko claims that the OCU will «enter their churches» after Easter.