National Reserve representatives seal UOC cathedral in Chernihiv

The blocked entrance to the territory of Chernihiv Trinity Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Photo: Telegram channel "Dozor_Kozak 1"

On 5 October 2023 at about 6:00 am, representatives of the National Architectural and Historical Reserve "Chernihiv Ancient" accompanied by law enforcement officers sealed the Trinity Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Chernihiv, reports the rector of the cathedral, Secretary of the Chernihiv Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Archpriest Ihor Pidan.

"This morning, at six o'clock, the military, security police and representatives of the NAIR "Chernihiv Ancient" rushed in and sealed the Trinity Cathedral," said the priest in the video published by the Telegram channel "Dozor_Kozak1”.

As reported, armed men in military uniforms also blocked the Transfiguration Cathedral and the Yeletskyi Dormition Convent in Chernihiv.

After the police were called in, it was learnt that the law enforcers had besieged the shrines to ensure the work of a commission of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, which was due to arrive from Kyiv.

The administration of the Chernihiv Eparchy of the UOC emphasises that the legal dispute over the Trinity and Transfiguration cathedrals and the Yeletskyi Convent is not over, the court decision has not been made yet.

As reported, in February 2023, the Reserve "Chernihiv Ancient" announced the end of the term of use agreements on architectural monuments – the Yeletskyi Convent, the Trinity Monastery and the Transfiguration Cathedral – and demanded that the Chernihiv Eparchy of the UOC vacate the shrines. The eparchy, citing the law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations", filed a lawsuit with the court asking to recognise the contracts as valid.

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