In Chernihiv, OCU wants to rent Transfiguration Cathedral
While the OCU has not yet submitted any requests to rent the cathedral, the UOC is suing to return the shrine to the religious community.
Natalia Rebrova, the general director of the Chernihiv Ancient Reserve, stated that the UOC is trying to regain the right to use the cathedral through the courts, as reported by Suspilne. "They want to continue using the cathedral for free and at their discretion. But I am confident that both the judicial system and government authorities will no longer allow such use," emphasized Rebrova.
Natalia Rebrova also mentioned that the OCU has not yet approached the issue of renting the cathedral. "Because right now, the question of transferring the Transfiguration Cathedral for use is not on the agenda until all of its main issues are resolved. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine shares our opinion regarding the Transfiguration Cathedral. And it is our partner in the process of restoring this unique thousand-year-old monument," she added.
Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine confirmed that the OCU plans to claim the church in the future, stressing: "There is now a corresponding law stating that religious organisations have the right to use cult buildings for free, meaning for rent, and of course, we will claim the holy sites that are now being liberated from the 'Russian world'. This is a temple, and prayers should be raised in it," he stated.
As reported by the UOJ, on 23 May, the Suspilne Chernihiv channel broadcast a story about what is happening now in the Transfiguration Cathedral in Chernihiv, which was taken from the UOC. The journalists showed how the “restorers” were using toothbrushes to scrub the paintings on the walls and the paint was falling off.
