Chernivtsi City Council appealed to the court with a demand to deprive the UOC community of the temple, which is located on the territory of the Central Hospital of the city, reports “Suspilne”.

It is known that in April the city council by its decision terminated the lease agreement with the religious community in honor of St. Martyr Panteleimon of Chernivtsi-Bukovyna diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which had been renting the building for eight years.

Now the deputy mayor Eugene Makhovikov reported the acceptance of the statement of claim by the Commercial Court of Chernivtsi region to consider and open proceedings on the case.

The city council claims that the religious organization received an appeal demanding to leave the premises of the church on the territory of the Central Hospital. However, the rector of the church, Heorhiy Aronets, said in a commentary to “Suspilnyy” that he had not received the appeal.

The priest also stated the congregation’s intentions to assert the right to be in their temple within the confines of the law.