Court recognizes the state expertise on UOC Charter as objective
The court determined that, according to religious scholars, despite changes in its charter, the UOC continues to maintain ecclesiastical and canonical ties with the Moscow Patriarchate.
On September 18, 2024, the Kyiv District Administrative Court ruled that the conclusion of the religious studies examination, confirming the canonical connection of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) with the Moscow Patriarchate, remains valid, according to Glavcom.
The Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC attempted to challenge the results of the examination, approved by the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience on January 27, 2023. The conclusions were drawn after analyzing the UOC charter and other documents, but the court found that the plaintiff failed to provide sufficient evidence to overturn the examination.
The UOC claimed that the examination was biased, while the religious scholars held prejudices against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. However, the court ruled that personal views of the experts did not influence the outcome and that the conclusions were based on a thorough analysis.
Archpriest Oleksandr Bakhov, head of the UOC Synodal Legal Department, participated in the expert group meeting and challenged four members of the commission, but his objections were dismissed. The Kyiv Metropolis was also unable to prove that its rights were violated during the examination.
In a letter from Metropolitan Onuphry, it was emphasized that the UOC does not question the state's right to conduct religious studies examinations but insists on their objectivity and transparency. Nevertheless, the court recognized that no facts were presented to disprove the examination’s findings.
The court's decision will take effect in one month unless an appeal is filed.
As reported by UOJ, Metropolitan Clement (Vecheria) explained why the UOC did not participate in the DESS examination.
