UOC-MP collects 1200 signatures to legalize unauthorized constructions near the Church of Tithes

The petition “On the provision of the right to freedom of religion of the faithful of the UOC-MP and public order around the Church of Tithes (chapel) was sent to the head of Kyiv City State Administration Vitakiy Klitschko on February 8, 2018. 12 thousand signatures under the appeal were collected within three days. This is reported by the Information and Educational Department of the UOC-MP (MP).

“The religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Church of Tithes of the Nativity of the Theotokos actually carried out the improvement of the adjoining territory (as indicated in Presidential Decree No. 217/2004-rp), as well as provided conditions not only for the sightseeing tour of this ancient Ukrainian monument, but also the prayer atmosphere,” the document says.

It is also noted that the right of ownership to the Church of Tithes (chapel), registered properly (in the State Register of Real Rights to Real Property by the religious community of the UOC, the Church of Tithes of the Nativity of Theotokos in Shevchenkivskyy district of the city of Kyiv).

"Recently, systematic attempts are made to desecrate and deliberately destroy the Church of Tithes,” reported in the petition. “In connection with this, we consider any actions aimed at desecrating and destroying the Church of Tithes (chapel) not only the violation of property rights, but also obstruction of the right to freedom of religion of the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv.”

Believers of the UOC (MP) request the head of the Kyiv City State Administration to legally secure the current title to the Church of Tithes (chapel) for the religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) the Church of Tithes of the Nativity of Theotokos, not preventing the faithful of the UOC (MP) in Kyiv to exercise the right to freedom of religion at the Church of Tithes (chapel) located at 2 Volodymyrska Street  and prevent the incitement of religious hatred in the city of Kyiv.

As RISU has already reported, recently, Kyivites collected more than 10.6 thousand votes under a petition demanding the demolition of the building of the UOC (Moscow Patriarchate), located near the Church of Tithes in the center of the capital.

According to the rules of the Kyiv City Council, petitions collecting at least 10,000 signatures should be considered by the city authorities within 90 days.

During the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Kyiv City Council on Urban Development, Architecture and Land Use, members of the Kyiv City Council supported the request of Kyivites to demolish the construction of the UOC (the Moscow Patriarchate).

The UOC (MP) calls this building the Church of Sts Volodymyr and Olga of the Men's Monastery of Tithes.

As you know, on January 27, Shevchenkivskyy District Court of Kyiv issued a ruling to arrest for two months the two suspects who attempted to set this building on fire with an alternative of bail.

On January 25, nationalists of the organizations С-14, Traditions and Order and Falcon dismantled the information board of the church.

Activists explain their actions by the fact that the UOC (MP) had no right to build anything on this land.