Court revokes UOC’s property rights to St. Baisl Convent in Ovruch

St. Basil Convent of the UOC in Ovruch. Photo: suspilne.media

The Economic Court of the Zhytomyr Region has ruled to annul the private ownership rights to the St. Basil Women's Monastery in Ovruch. This was reported by the press service of the Economic Court of the Zhytomyr Region on the official website of the state authority.

The court's decision has not yet come into force and may be appealed.

The proceedings were initiated based on the "unlawful" registration of private ownership rights to the buildings of the St. Basil Women's Monastery. The prosecutor also demanded that the court examine the "inaction of the authorized bodies in protecting state interests."

According to the case materials, on March 23, 2006, the executive committee of the Ovruch City Council issued Decision No. 82 on the registration of property rights to real estate. The court ruled that this was done "in excess of authority and without the appropriate decision of an authorized state body."

The court ruling states that "this decision is illegal and must be annulled. Accordingly, the certificate of ownership issued for the real estate must be declared invalid."

The court's decision, dated February 10, 2025, was published in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions on February 19.

The monastery’s defense argued that the religious community could not verify the legality of the local authorities' actions and acted in good faith.

The monastery’s lawyer also pointed out that the statute of limitations on the case had long expired. However, the court determined that the monastery’s ownership was of a "long-term nature," which, in the court's opinion, made the application of the statute of limitations impossible.

Following the case review, the court ruled to declare illegal and annul the decision of the executive committee of the Ovruch City Council to transfer the monastery’s premises into private ownership.

Additionally, the court ruled to invalidate the certificate of ownership for the monastery’s real estate dated June 12, 2006.

The court's decision will take effect after the appeal period expires, provided no appeal is filed within the stipulated 20-day period.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the authorities of Ovruch had demanded that priests join the OCU or vacate the churches.

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