Kyiv City Council complains capital’s churches are not transitioning to OCU

Kyiv City Council. Photo: Facebook / Kyiv City Council

Victoria Mukha, head of the Kyiv City Council's Permanent Commission on Culture, Tourism, and Information Policy, complained in an interview with Glavсom that UOC communities in Kyiv are unwilling to transition to the OCU.

When asked by a journalist about the implementation of the law banning the "Moscow Church", Mukha responded that Kyiv’s Department of Culture is prepared to register amendments to the statutes of communities in the event of voluntary transitions. However, according to her, such transitions simply are not happening.

"In three years of full-scale invasion, only four religious communities in Kyiv have changed their canonical affiliation and transitioned from the UOC (MP) to the OCU," Mukha lamented, emphasizing that "all these transitions occurred back in 2023." "As of today, there is no known case of any new community transition happening in 2024, especially after the adoption of the law," the official stated.

According to her, there are currently 1,300 religious associations and organizations operating in Kyiv. Of these, 313 belong to the UOC: 267 communities, 14 monasteries, and three higher theological institutions. The OCU has 241 organizations, including 192 communities, 10 monasteries, and three higher theological institutions.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Kyiv City Council is considering a project to demolish 74 UOC churches.

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