Uzhhorod residents protest against construction of new UGCC church

Entrance to the cemetery in Uzhhorod. Photo: Wikipedia

Residents of Uzhhorod have voiced their protest against the construction of a garrison church of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) near the "Kalvaria" cemetery.

During a public hearing, the proposal from the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Eparchy to amend the detailed development plan for the area was not supported.

Twenty-seven people participated in the hearing. A representative of the Mukachevo Eparchy proposed allocating a plot of land for the church's construction, explaining that it would serve as an important place for the families of fallen soldiers buried at "Kalvaria," and that a priest-psychologist would be permanently assigned to the church.

The initiative was supported by Uzhhorod City Council deputies Valentyn Shtefanio (Servant of the People party) and Volodymyr Komarnytskyi (European Solidarity party).

However, residents living near the cemetery opposed the construction of the new church, noting that the proposed changes to the detailed plan did not envision the construction of religious buildings.

They pointed out that there are already abandoned chapels within walking distance that could be restored to serve the needs of the faithful of the Mukachevo Eparchy.

To help resolve the conflict, it was decided during the hearing to establish a reconciliation commission. The final decision regarding amendments to the detailed development plan will be made by the deputies of the Uzhhorod City Council.

Earlier, it was reported that a UGCC church would be built in the historic part of Zaporizhzhia.

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