In Lvov, the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) were interrupted. This was announced by the mayor of the city Andrei Sadovy in his telegram channel.
According to him, the Church of St. George the Victor, which was the cathedral of the Lviv diocese of the UOC, was transferred for the use of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), established in 2018. The mayor clarified that the owner of the premises had terminated the contract with the UOC, and her priests would no longer render services there.
Sadovyi also said that the premises belonging to the UOC at a different address have been handed over to doctors and a rehabilitation center for military personnel will be organized there. Also, a wooden church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, recognized as self-built, was demolished in Lviv, he said.
“Thank you to everyone who joined and very worthily, without provocations, completed the history of the Moscow Patriarchate in our city during these two days. For the observance of the law, restraint and tolerance. Before Easter, it there should be order at home,” Sadovyi said.
On the afternoon of April 5, there were clashes between supporters and opponents of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the temple, the UOC said they were trying to seize the cathedral.
The conflict around the UOC-MP, which the Ukrainian authorities accuse of being pro-Russian, intensified in early March. The Ministry of Culture demands that the monks of the UOC leave the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra or go to the OCU. The Abbé de la Laure, Metropolitan Pavel, is under house arrest. He is suspected of “incitement to sectarian hatred” and “apology for armed aggression”.
A criminal case has also been initiated against the Metropolitan of the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC. He is suspected of “justifying armed aggression against Ukraine” and “glorifying its participants”.
In addition, the Khmelnitsky Regional Council officially banned UOC activities in the region. The deputies took the decision unanimously. From now on, the local authorities must seize all the plots of land that are for the use of the UOC. As Strana.ua writes, in Ukraine, regional and city deputies do not have the right to ban the activities of religious organizations. In 2022, local councils made similar decisions regarding the UOC, but these have not been implemented.
