OCU Representatives Miss Hearing in Cathedral Ownership Case

CHERKASY, UKRAINE — Representatives of the Cherkasy city government and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) failed to appear at a court hearing concerning ownership of the Archangel Michael Cathedral, despite having initiated the legal proceedings. Hundreds of Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) faithful, led by Metr. Theodosiy of Cherkasy, attended the hearing as observers.

According to the Telegram channel Cherkasy Herald, the case before the Commercial Court of Cherkasy Region concerns an OCU lawsuit seeking ownership of the cathedral complex. The claim asks the court to recognize the buildings as unauthorized construction and transfer ownership to the OCU, including the cathedral, diocesan administration building, orphanage school, chapels, and auxiliary structures.

More than 700 parishioners and the Cherkasy Diocese reportedly applied to participate in the proceedings as third parties, but the court rejected their requests. As a result, clergy, monks, and parishioners who say they built and maintained the complex were unable to participate in the case concerning its ownership.

The Archangel Michael Cathedral was seized from the UOC on October 17, 2024. The complex had been privately owned by the Administration of the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC since 2018, but state registration of that ownership was canceled by an order of Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice in March 2024. The UOC is challenging the legality of that order in the Commercial Court of Kyiv.

The latest hearing has intensified concerns among UOC supporters about their ability to defend their property rights in court. The Cherkasy Diocese says it intends to continue informing Ukrainian and international audiences as the legal dispute proceeds.

Previously, the UOJ reported that a UOC parish serving hospital patients faced eviction in Cherkasy.