Ternopil RC urges Ministry of Culture to seize Pochaiv Lavra from UOC

Pochaiv Lavra. Photo: news.church.ua

On March 22, the Ternopil Regional Council voted for an appeal to the Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Ministry of Culture demanding the termination of the agreement "On the free use of the Holy Dormition Pochaiv Lavra". It was concluded on December 12, 2003 between the State Committee of Ukraine for Construction and Architecture and the Holy Dormition Lavra of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and valid until 2052. This was reported on the website of the Ternopil Regional Council.

The deputies also appealed to law enforcement agencies with facts of violations of the use of land and to the government with a demand to dismiss the Minister of Justice due to "delaying the process of state registration of communities transferring to Ukrainian churches."

In addition, the Ternopil Regional Council petitioned to support the bill 7204 "on the prohibition of the Moscow Patriarchate in the territory of Ukraine." The appeal is addressed to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

As the UOJ reported, earlier Minister of Culture Oleksandr Tkachenko said that the state is working to terminate the lease agreements between the UOC and temples in Chernihiv and Pochaiv.

Read also

ROCOR Priest Reflects on Trip to Capitol Hill

Archpriest Victor Boldewskul participated in the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco's Day of Action to raise awareness about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Hundreds of Chinese Christians Arrested in Pre-Christmas Crackdown

Hundreds of Chinese Christians face spending Christmas in detention after authorities launched a sweeping pre-holiday crackdown on churches under Beijing’s campaign to control religious life.

Ukraine Adviser: UOC Not Banned, but Offered a 'Choice' of Jurisdictions

A Ukrainian presidential adviser said the UOC is not banned but pressured to choose between joining the OCU, submitting to Constantinople, or remaining unregistered, while dismissing international concerns as propaganda.

Indiana Reports 98% Drop in Abortions Under Stricter Law

Indiana’s latest health report shows a 98% drop in reported abortions under stricter laws, though dozens still occurred under legal exceptions and concerns persist about unreported pill abortions.

Armenian Apostolic Church Pushes Back on Political Encroachment

The Armenian Apostolic Church plans to appeal to international bodies to resist government interference and defend its clergy and sacred relics.

Attempted Takeover at Armenian Etchmiadzin Cathedral Thwarted by Faithful

Supporters of Armenian PM Pashinyan attempted to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral amid calls for the Catholicos’s resignation but were blocked by parishioners and security.