Seized cathedral in Cherkasy to be used as a shelter for fans
St. Michael’s Cathedral in Cherkasy. Photo: Drymba
The general director of the Cherkasy football team "LNZ," Andriy Kolesnyk, revealed in an interview with the 18000 news outlet that his club had signed a commercial agreement with the current owners of Archangel Michael Cathedral to use the church as a shelter for football fans. This agreement has significantly increased the number of spectators allowed at the stadium during matches. Due to martial law, the club can sell as many tickets as the number of shelter spots available in case of an air raid alert. With this arrangement, "LNZ" can now sell 1,000 tickets instead of 400, greatly boosting the club’s revenue.
According to Kolesnyk, the UOC refused to cooperate, whereas the OCU signed a contract with the club, granting access to the lower church as a shelter during matches. The financial details of the contract were not disclosed.
"We signed the agreement and helped set up a shelter in the church’s basement, which is located opposite the stadium," the director stated, adding that the "previous holders" refused to lease the church as a shelter.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the OCU was using the seized cathedral in Cherkasy as a concert hall, with ticket prices set at 100 UAH.
Read also
Medieval сhurch сrumbles as Culture Ministry сites missing agreement
The 14th–15th-century St. Nicholas Church in Chesnyky, Ivano-Frankivsk Region, is falling into disrepair.
Poland сondemns Lviv Regional Council's decision to declare 2007 year of UPA
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says the Lviv Regional Council's decision to dedicate 2027 to the UPA and Roman Shukhevych is harmful to Ukraine.
OCU seeks court recognition of ownership of seized Cherkasy cathedral
The Cherkasy Regional Commercial Court will hear an OCU lawsuit seeking ownership of St. Michael's Cathedral, which was seized from UOC believers.
Lithuanian bishop: Ukraine is no model for believers' rights
Vicar of Vilnius Diocese voices concern over attempts to import Ukraine's religious conflict into Lithuania.
Hundreds of believers honor St. Alexis of Carpatho-Russia in Khust Eparchy
At the St. Nicholas Monastery in the village of Iza-Karputlash, Metropolitan Mark of Khust led a festive liturgy, concelebrated by six metropolitans, five archbishops and three bishops.
Court upholds UOC parish appeal in Voloshky over OCU switch dispute
The Northern Commercial Court of Appeal has upheld the appeal of the St. Nicholas parish of the UOC in the village of Voloshky, Volyn region, in a dispute over a transfer to the OCU.