MP Ihor Huz declares plans to seize two UOC monasteries in Volyn

Ukrainian MP Ihor Huz. Photo: Screenshot from Bug video

Ukrainian Member of Parliament Ihor Huz announced that once the “final point” is put on the issue of the Dormition Cathedral of the Volodymyr-Volynsky Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) – even if it requires forcibly removing the faithful from their sacred site – he will turn his attention to the Dormition monasteries in the villages of Zymne and Nyzkynychi in Volyn. He shared these plans in an interview with Radio BUG.

Huz stated that in the near future, the state will complete the procedure of expropriating the cathedral. He expressed confidence that believers will vacate the church peacefully. If not, the MP threatened to bring in several hundred members of the "patriotic public" to ensure the cathedral is handed over to the state and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

When asked by the journalist about the future of the Zymne women’s monastery and the Nyzkynychi men’s monastery in Volyn region, he replied: “First, we will put a bold period on the issue of the Holy Dormition Cathedral, and then – everything will be very simple.”

“To begin the same process with the two monasteries in question, it’s necessary to cancel the directive of the previous head of the Regional State Administration, Mr. Pohuliaiko, who extended the lease agreements for more than fifty years. For that, legal decisions are needed, including from the leadership of the Volyn Regional Administration. We’ll talk about that a bit later – but it will happen,” the MP declared.

As previously reported by the UOJ, MP Huz earlier referred to the expulsion of the UOC from the cathedral in Volodymyr as a “victory”.

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