UOC eparchy on seizure of land: They could have taken it near the Colosseum

Colosseum in Rome. Photo: knowhow

“Our deputies can withdraw the land under the Eiffel Tower and under the Roman Colosseum with similar success,” the Chernivtsi diocese commented on the illegal decision of the city council, by which the deputies seized the land plots of 22 churches in Chernivtsi.

The press service of the diocese stated that “the decision of 28 deputies does not entail any legal consequences for 22 churches in the city of Chernivtsi,” since “only the COURT can terminate the right to permanent use of a land plot and in accordance with a clearly defined procedure.”

The diocese recalled that “the city council does not have the authority to terminate the right to permanent use of a land plot in accordance with the Law on Local Self-Government. Our deputies can withdraw the land under the Eiffel Tower and under the Roman Colosseum with similar success.”

Thus, the press service stated that the decision of the Chernivtsi City Council will not have any implications for the believers of the UOC.

“All Orthodox churches are open for prayer, there are no restrictions on worship services. Religious communities continue to use the land plots and carry out their improvement,” the statement said.

The eparchy believes that the government’s decision is “an act of informational intimidation and political pressure so that we abandon the Orthodox Faith and serve the god that the deputies will indicate to us ... according to their spiritual tastes and their spiritual development.”

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the authorities took away the land under the temples from the UOC communities in Chernivtsi.

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