MPs given tour of sanctuary in seized UOC cathedral in Chernihiv

Members of Parliament in the sanctuary of the Transfiguration Cathedral. Photo: Serhiy Karas

On June 16, 2025, a tour was held in the Transfiguration Cathedral of Chernihiv — from which the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) was expelled by the state — for members of the Verkhovna Rada’s Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy. The tour was organized by Nataliia Rebrova, director of the “Ancient Chernihiv” historical reserve.

On June 16, 2025, a tour was held in the Transfiguration Cathedral of Chernihiv – from which the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) was expelled by the state – for members of the Verkhovna Rada’s Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy. The tour was organized by Natalia Rebrova, director of the “Ancient Chernihiv” historical reserve.

Rebrova led the MPs, most of whom were women, into the sanctuary of the cathedral. In a photo published by the Pechera outlet, the parliamentarians are seen standing directly at the Holy Table (Altar) without any sign of concern or hesitation.

MP Volodymyr Viatrovych, while inspecting the cathedral, from which the UOC was expelled in 2023, declared that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church “clutters the minds of Ukrainians with Russian propaganda. What we saw here today proves that it’s not only a figurative polluting of minds, but also a literal defilement of our sacred places.”

Committee chairman Mykyta Poturaev, speaking on the issue of funding for the Transfiguration Cathedral, stated that the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) should also be involved.

“The Church cannot bear all the costs alone. The state is also unlikely to be able to cover everything. Therefore, this must be the effort of three actors: the state, civil society, and the Church,” Poturaiev said.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the authorities had granted the OCU use of the Transfiguration Cathedral after seizing it from the UOC. The state is also organizing film screenings in the church.

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