Appellate Court upholds a decision to transfer Kaniv UOC Cathedral to state

Assumption (St. George) Cathedral of the XII century in Kaniv. Photo: md-ukraine.com

On May 23, 2024, a court hearing took place regarding the appeal of the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC concerning the decision of the Economic Court of Cherkasy Region to return the 12th-century St. George's Cathedral in Kaniv, Cherkasy Region, to state ownership. As reported on social media by believers, the court rejected the UOC's appeal.

On the eve of the hearing, UOC parishioner Natalia Pochtovaya called for prayers for the cathedral's rector, Father Georgiy, and the congregation.

"They've kicked us out onto the street! What have we done to anyone? People came to pray for their children, for their fellow countrymen, for the authorities, for our Ukraine. How many of our parishioners have died in the war! How many on the front lines! A knife right in the heart!" she wrote on May 23, commenting on the court's decision.

The appellate court hearing was postponed several times over two months.

As reported by the UOJ, at the end of March, the Economic Court ruled to transfer St. George's Cathedral of the UOC in Kaniv to the state. The Legal Department of the UOC stated that they would file an appeal.

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