Chernivtsi City Council asks court to deprive UOC community of its temple

St Panteleimon’s Church of the UOC. Photo: suspilne.media

The Chernivtsi Сity Сouncil's Сommunal Property Department has filed a lawsuit against the UOC community demanding that the church building on the territory of the city's Central Hospital be vacated, reports “Suspilne”.

Deputy mayor Yevhen Makhovikov said that on 15 September the Economic Court of the Chernivtsi region accepted the statement of claim for consideration and opened proceedings on the case, according to the court ruling.

In April, the City Council terminated the lease agreement for the building with the community of the Saint Great Martyr Pantaleimon parish of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the UOC, which had been renting the building for eight years.

Following the City Council's decision, a religious organization sent a demand to the community to vacate the church premises located on the territory of the Central Hospital. The church's rector, Georgiy Aronets, said in a comment to "Suspilne" that he did not receive any requests.

According to Fr Georgiy, the community plans to legally defend its right to remain in their church.

As previously reported, the UOC community in Chernivtsi is being expelled from the church they have built.

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