Ukrainian Orthodox Church loses Kloster: What is behind it?

Ukrainian Orthodox Church loses Kloster: What is behind it?

Tschernihiv, Ukraine - Kiev/Zurich, February 06, 2025-Another setback for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOK): The use of the Jelets monastery in Tschernihiv was withdrawn and the architectural and historical national park "Altes Tschernihiv". This is reported by the news service Eastern Churches (NÖK). On January 16, the Supreme Court of Ukraine rejected the Aarchie Tschernihiv's complaint against this decision, which was negotiated in several instances for almost two years. The case is particularly important because the 11th century monastery is an architectural monument of national importance.

court and history of the monasteries

As early as November 2024, the Supreme Court decided that the UOK also had no right to use the transfiguration cathedral in Chernihiv. In February 2023, the use of a total of three architectural monuments in Tschernihiv was lifted by the national park. At the same time, there was an incident in October 2023 in which armed people blocked access to these churches, followed by a closure to carry out restoration work. In an interview, a representative of the national park criticized that the transfiguration cathedral remained in poor condition during the 30-year use by the UOK. The nuns that still live in the Jelets monastery are now under pressure and the situation is tense, as

The UOK does not only see itself under pressure through judicial decisions. The conflict is also reinforced by the current war. On January 18, for example, the cathedral of St. Andreas in Saporischschja was damaged by a Russian rocket attack. Fortunately, two people remained unharmed in the church, but the damage is considerable. The Eparchie Saporischschja called on the repair work and described the event as a test of faith in which the faithful should demonstrate their faith with good deeds. This dramatic development shows how strong the influence of the conflict on religious institutions in Ukraine and illustrates the challenges with which the UOK is confronted.