By the end of March, the Moscow Patriarchate must return the Transfiguration Cathedral and the complex of buildings of the Troitsky and Yeletsky monasteries to the state.
The National Architectural and Historical Reserve "Ancient Chernihiv" requires the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate to vacate the premises of three architectural monuments of national importance, which are on the balance sheet of the reserve. As "Suspilne" reports, acting general director of the reserve, Volodymyr Khomych, confirmed that he had sent a letter to Metropolitan Amvrosii of Chernihiv and Novgorod-Siversky with a request "to return the property to the reserve by March 27, 2023 inclusive" in connection with the expiration of the period of free use.
We are talking about the Savior and Transfiguration Cathedral of the 11th century, the Yeletsky Monastery of the 12th-17th centuries, and the Trinity Monastery of the 17th-18th centuries. Previously, the UOC MP used this property free of charge in accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations". However, in connection with the entry into force of the new law "On the lease of state and communal property", according to the acting general director of the reserve, the article on the possibility of free use has become invalid.
"If they have the intention to conclude a contract, then let them conclude the contract. If they have no intention, and they insist on free use, then this is a matter for the legislation," said Volodymyr Khomych.
In turn, the Chernihiv Diocese of the UOC MP continues to insist on the right to free use of state property.
"There are no reasons for leaving the churches. And there were none. Since these churches were handed over by a law that has fulfilled its purpose and has not been canceled," says the secretary of the Chernihiv Diocese of the UOC MP Ihor Pydan.
According to the acting general director of the reserve, if a religious community applies to the State Property Fund with a request to enter into a lease agreement, the final decision on granting, canceling or extending the lease will be adopted by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, as the reserve's management body.