Three Orthodox Denominations and Svoboda Association Call Zhytomyr Regional Council Not To Transfer Church to UOC-Moscow Patriarchate

Three Orthodox denominations, public organizations and the nationalist association Svoboda called the regional council of the central Ukrainian city of Zhytomyr not to transfer the building of the former Church of the Exaltation of the Cross to the books of the Zhytomyr Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate.

So says the resolution of the participants of a “round table” held on 7 September with the participation of religious and public organizations and Svoboda association, which was passed to UNIAN.

The resolution is addressed to the Zhytomyr Regional State Administration and Zhytomyr Regional Council. The Zhytomyr Natural Museum is located in the church today. At the same time, several denominations claim the building.

In the resolution, priests of three denominations, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church as well as representatives of public organizations call the Zhytomyr Regional Council not to pass at its session tomorrow the decision to transfer the mentioned building to the books of the Zhytomyr Eparchy of UOC-MP. They suggest that the council should postpone any decisions in this regard till the question of one local Orthodox Church in Ukraine is settled.

“On 8 September, the Zhytomyr Regional Council is to consider the draft resolution to transfer the church to the Moscow Church. Such actions provoke war and not peace. A representative of the regional state administration noted that the project is backed by the head of the regional branch of Party of Regions,” stated the head of the regional organization of Svoboda association, Sydir Kizin.