OCU fails to restore ancient church in Zhytomyr on its own

In Zhytomyr, a unique architectural monument, the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is under threat of destruction. After nearly a century of use as a production facility, the church was handed over to local representatives of the OCU in 2015, but they were unable to restore it. In this regard, while representatives of one of the local dioceses of the OCU are begging the state for money for restoration, the church is gradually falling into disrepair.

The building, located on Okhrymova Hill, is in a deplorable state. According to Suspilne, the head of one of the OCU centers in Zhytomyr, Volodymyr Shlapak, the state has never allocated funds for the church. “There have been many oral requests, agreements, and meetings with high-ranking officials, but we see only one thing – a refusal and advice to look for an investor. We do not have them yet, because we are not a business, but a church,” he said.

Since 2015, when the church was transferred to the OCU, representatives of the Ukrainian schism have been trying to start restoration work. According to Suspilne, “with the help of donations from the faithful, they managed to cover the burnt roof, install a dome and replace the windows.” The first religious event in the church took place in April 2019. However, a complete restoration is not yet possible: an accurate estimate of the work has not been made, and attempts to allocate funds to the local budget have not been successful.

The Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is an architectural monument of local significance, has a rich history. According to Gennadiy Makhorin, PhD in History, the church was built in 1902 on the site of an old cemetery. Its architecture differs from typical churches of the time, in particular, due to the characteristic “hanging columns”, the remains of which have survived to this day.

As reported, on September 13, 2025, representatives of the OCU seized the Holy Protection Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Potiivka, Zhytomyr region. The process of seizure was supervised by the OCU hierarch Vladimir Shlapak, who personally broke the church fence to get into the church. According to eyewitnesses, the OCU raiders did not have any documents proving their right to the religious building.