Repair in the Uhryniv church seized by UOC-KP draws attention of architectural control (PHOTO)

September 16, the Holy Cross Church of the Volyn village Uhryniv, seized by the UOC-KP, was visited by an inspection to check if the Kiev Patriarchate had permission for construction work in the church, reports a UOJ correspondent.

"Members of the village council and the community of the UOC-KP immediately ran to our seized church, which has been under pointless repair for two years," said witnesses of the events, representatives of the UOC community.

According to them, at first the inspection was very critical, and tried to explain to the Kiev Patriarchate members that the church is an architectural monument, and to distort its architectural appearance is illegal. Subsequently, however, as reported the witnesses, the inspection and representatives of the UOC-KP, seemed to come to a certain agreement on the further check, because the course of the negotiations changed.

"Not only that they took off the dome and placed a new one, they have altered everything inside, without having any right to it," say the UOC community, which has been denied access to the church by the local community of the Kiev Patriarchate since September 2014.

According to Uhryniv residents, the last step was the removal of the whole and absolute quality wood floor – to lay instead old parquet, stored at the former village warehouse. According to them, since the new dome was installed in the winter, due to unhealthy indoor climate there appeared mold fungus on the church walls, but the repair is still ongoing.

Since the seizure by the UOC-KP of the Holy Cross Church in September 2014, the UOC community has been attending the service at the vicar’s. Recently, however, on a claim of the Kiev Patriarchate, the UOC priest's family was moved out of the house.

The UOJ is monitoring the developments.


Upper Lavra court hearing postponed

The next court hearing in the Upper Lavra case has been scheduled for November 3.

UOC priest blesses ambulances at Kamianske medical center

A UOC priest in Kamianske blessed ambulances for a medical facility and wished its doctors God's help in their work.

Dumenko to German ambassador: Law targeting UOC also applies to other groups

Epifaniy Dumenko sought to defend Ukraine’s law restricting religious organizations during a meeting with the German ambassador.

Activists bused to court hearings in UOC cases, media say

A minibus has been spotted transporting protesters to and from courthouses where UOC cases are being heard.

Firefighters save historic UOC church from fire in Zakarpattia

A fire broke out at a UOC church in the Tiachiv district, damaging the altar and church furnishings.

Volyn Eparchy faithful collect six tons of aid for Sviatohirsk Lavra

Believers in Volyn collected food and warm clothing for people displaced by the war who have found shelter at Sviatohirsk Lavra.