DESS says which denomination has most communities and monasteries

The Pochaiv Lavra. Photo: Channel 24

The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) has revealed data on the number of religious communities, monasteries and religious schools in Ukraine, reports Risu.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has the largest number of religious communities – 29%, 22% belong to the OCU, and about 10% of communities belong to the UGCC. By the number of monasteries, the UOC is the leader – 39%, 22% belong to the Roman Catholic Church, 20% belong to the UGCC, the OCU is said to be in the 4th place, but the number of monasteries is not specified.

In total, there are communities of more than 90 different religious denominations and movements in Ukraine. As of 1 January 2004, there were 36,195 religious communities, 552 monasteries and 201 religious schools. The largest number of religious communities and monasteries is in the Lviv region.

As reported by the UOJ, earlier the DESS head stated that the ban of the UOC would not violate the rights of its believers.

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