OCU demands authorities seize St. Lavrenty of Chernihiv house from UOC

The house of St. Lavrenty of Chernihiv. Photo: raskolam.net

Representatives of the OCU in Chernihiv are demanding that local authorities transfer to them the house where St. Lavrenty of Chernihiv once lived. They argue that the property is currently used by a public organization allegedly connected to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which they consider unacceptable, reports Chernihiv Time.

In early October, OCU cleric Yevhen Orda publicly accused Chernihiv authorities of facilitating the "spiritual expansion of Russian Orthodoxy." His discontent stemmed from a decision to deny a long-term lease for the land at 38 Illinska Street, where the house of St. Lavrenty of Chernihiv is located. Orda linked the property’s managing organization, "Care and Faith", to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Orda stated that his goal was to prevent the transfer of the land to this organization, which he believes is covertly connected to the UOC and led by priest Fedir Mandziuk. However, the Chernihiv City Council rejected his request. Vasyl Dmytrenko, head of the land resources department, justified the refusal, citing a lack of evidence to prove the organization’s connection to the UOC.

As previously reported by the UOJ, an appellate court denied the UOC the right to pray in Chernihiv’s ancient churches.

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