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
Armenian Church to hold council in Austria despite government obstacles
The Episcopal Council of the Armenian Church will take place in St. Pölten, even though a number of bishops have been banned from leaving the country and several hierarchs remain in custody.
Moldovan Metropolis bishop and faithful blocked inside a church in Moldova
Police blocked access to a church in the village of Dereneu, where Archbishop Petru of the Moldovan Church and parishioners were inside.
Why Phanar recognized UAOC ordinations involving self-proclaimed bishop – historian
The Phanar compared the participation of impostor Chekalin in the UAOC ordinations to zero in mathematics: whether you multiply by zero or divide by zero, the result is still one.
Pashinyan compares Armenian Church clergy to Islamists
The Armenian prime minister said in an interview that radical political sermons are being delivered in Armenian churches.
Turkish and Greek leaders to discuss religious agenda with Pat. Bartholomew
The President of Turkey and the Prime Minister of Greece will hold a meeting and official dinner with Patriarch Bartholomew in Ankara.
Kharkiv metropolitan offers condolences after tragedy in Bohodukhiv
Metropolitan Onufriy sent words of support to the mother of three young children who were killed, as well as to their father, in Kharkiv Region.