Lviv City Council transfers premises of St. George complex to UGCC
St. George's Cathedral complex in Lviv. Photo: ugcc.lviv.ua
On September 4, 2020, deputies of the Lviv City Council decided to approve a land management project on the transfer of land embracing the territory of St. George's Mountain in Lviv to the permanent use of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church "for maintaining the complex of St. George's Cathedral and lower metropolitan gardens." This was reported by the press service of the Lviv Archdiocese of the UGCC.
"This decision is a step in the restoration of the St. George's shrine, including due to the planned arrangement of a park-recreational zone on the territory of the lower Metropolitan Gardens," the UGCC said.
The head of the Lviv Uniates Igor Kyr stressed that the decision of the Lviv City Council "to return to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church the territory of the Arch-Cathedral and the Metropolitan Gardens on Mount St. George" is a "historic milestone".
"The St. George's complex, which is now under the protection of UNESCO, is not only an architectural monument of world importance but a great stronghold of faith. By taking this shrine from the Ukrainian people, the Soviets tried to show the destruction and oppression of our Church. But through the revival of the independence of our Motherland, St. George's Cathedral returns to the disposal of the people to be a source of God's grace," said the Uniate hierarch and thanked Lviv deputies for "courageous restoration of historical justice", which will usher in a new stage of Lviv's development.
St. George's Cathedral in Lviv (at 5 St. George's Square), built on the site of an ancient Orthodox church, is considered the main shrine of Ukrainian Greek Catholics. The tombs of Andrei Sheptytsky and Sylvester Sembratovich are located in the crypt of the cathedral, while in 1992 the remains of Joseph Slipy were reburied here.
As the UOJ reported, earlier the hierarch of the UGCC in Ivano-Frankivsk demanded to give a courthouse to the church.
Read also
Petition Warns Canada’s Hate Speech Law Could Criminalize Scripture
Thousands of Canadians have signed a petition urging the Liberal government to drop proposed hate-speech changes that critics warn could criminalize quoting the Bible and other religious texts.
JD Vance: Criticizing Israel Is Not Antisemitism
Vice President JD Vance said opposing Israeli policies is not the same as antisemitism, sparking debate over where criticism of Israel ends and hatred of Jews begins.
First Orthodox Prayer Book Published in Indonesian Language
The first Orthodox prayer book in Indonesian has been published and presented in Bekasi, providing local faithful and new converts with a vital resource for prayer and liturgical life.
OCA Joins Legal Challenge to Illinois Abortion Referral Law
Amicus brief argues mandate violates religious freedom and compels pro-life providers to contradict their faith.
EXCLUSIVE: Leaked Ukrainian Memo Says Religious Freedom is ‘Achilles Heel’
In an emergency strategy meeting held in response to the Society of St. John's Day of Action, D.C.-based Ukrainian lobbyists acknowledged the weight of the religious freedom issue as it pertains to the Ukrainian government’s public perception.
Historic $2.9 Million Bequest Strengthens Greek Orthodox Foundation
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago Foundation has received a record $2.9 million bequest from the late Andy Efthim, a devoted layman whose faith-filled generosity will support the Church’s mission for generations.