Ukraine’s Ministry of Education attempts to seize UOC church in Odesa

Church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “The Sign.” Photo: raskolamnet

On December 2, 2025, it became known that Ukraine’s Ministry of Education is seeking to take away the UOC church dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God “The Sign,” located on the grounds of the Odesa College of Trade and Economics. News of the threat to the shrine came from a video posted on Facebook by Archdeacon Andriy Palchuk.

According to the archdeacon, the church on Inglezi Street has been active for over two decades. “In the city of Odesa, on Inglezi Street, on the territory of the institute, there is a church in honor of the Mother of God ‘The Sign.’ It has existed for twenty years. Last year it was hit by a missile, and together with you we helped restore it. A huge number of parishioners – so many baptisms, so many weddings – and now the Ministry of Education wants to take this church away from us," he said.

The clergyman emphasized that prayer is offered here daily: “This is a place where services are held every day – for our country, for our victory, for peace.” Palchuk noted that Metropolitan Agathangel of Odesa and Izmail visits the church regularly and is “always greeted by a great number of young people and children” on feast days.

He reminded viewers that the eparchy had won the first court case: “There was a first trial. Thanks to our Orthodox lawyers of the Odesa Eparchy, with God’s help, we won.” However, on December 3 an appeal hearing is scheduled: “Tomorrow, on Shevchenko Avenue, the appellate court will hold a session at twelve noon. We are worried. There is a feeling that we may lose. We cannot even imagine what it would mean to have the church taken from us, to drive the people out.”

The archdeacon urged the faithful to support the church with prayer and personal presence: “I call on all of you, dear brothers and sisters, to pray tomorrow at noon. The hearing will be open, anyone may come, observe, and quietly offer a prayer so that the Lord may direct everything.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Pischane, Dumenko “consecrated” a church seized from the UOC.

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