OCU seeks court recognition of ownership of seized Cherkasy cathedral

St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral in Cherkasy. Photo: find-way.com.ua

The faithful are being urged to attend a hearing at the Cherkasy Regional Commercial Court concerning ownership of St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral, which was forcibly seized from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The lawsuit was filed by the OCU's so-called St. Michael's Garrison Parish, UOC attorney Archpriest Nikita Chekman reported.

The hearing is scheduled for October 29, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. It will take place at the courthouse at 307 Shevchenko Boulevard in Cherkasy. The hearing is open to the public, and anyone may attend.

In its lawsuit, the OCU is seeking recognition of its ownership rights to the entire complex of buildings, including the cathedral, the eparchial administration building, a school for orphans, other churches, chapels, and auxiliary structures. According to the appeal, the plaintiff is asking the court to classify the complex as unauthorized construction.

According to the lawyers, the complex had been privately owned by the Cherkasy Eparchy Administration of the UOC since 2018. In March 2024, the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice issued an order canceling the registration of these ownership rights. The UOC is challenging the legality of that order in the Commercial Court of Kyiv.

The appeal emphasizes that the churches were built by the UOC over several decades using donations from believers. The eparchial administration, previously registered as the owner, asked the court to allow it to participate in the proceedings as a third party. The court denied the request, ruling that its decision would not affect the administration's rights or interests. UOC legal advocates say the ruling has deprived the administration of the opportunity to provide explanations and present evidence.

As the UOJ previously reported, OCU raiders seized St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral of the UOC in Cherkasy on October 17, 2024. The OCU announced that the cathedral had come under its control that day and had become a garrison church. The Cherkasy Eparchy of the UOC intends to defend its property rights in court.

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