On January 23, 2024, the Economic Court of Chernihiv region rejected the claim in two cases of the Department of Chernihiv Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to extend the contracts of free use of architectural objects of national importance. It is about the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral and the complex of constructions of the Trinity Monastery within the National architectural and historical reserve “Chernihiv Ancient”. About it reports “Suspilne”.

“We, referring to the lease of state and communal property, we offer (Chernihiv diocese of the UOC, – ed.) to conclude a lease agreement and in accordance with this developed procedure, to take advantage of changes in the legislation and conclude a new contract”, – comments on the situation representative of the Ministry of culture of Ukraine Valentina Oleksienko, obviously hinting at the transition and re-registration of documents of the Chernihiv diocese of the UOC in the OCU.

In turn, the lawyer of the diocese said that he has not yet been familiarized with the decision of the Economic Court of Chernihiv region, the decision to file an appeal will be made later, after its study.

We shall remind you that on December 25, 2023, on the initiative of the acting head of the historical and cultural reserve “Chernihiv Ancient”, representatives of the PCU performed worship activities in the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which was previously sealed at the request of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine because of the alleged “emergency condition”.