Kharkiv Cathedral Claimed By 3 Orthodox Jurisdictions

Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma issued decree №279 on eliminating the consequences of totalitarianism on 21 March 2002, according to which property will be returned to various religious communities. According to the decree, by 1 June 2002, an interdepartmental commission will be established at the State Committee on Religious Matters, which by 1 September 2002 will have to work out a plan of procedures for returning religious buildings. Picture from: http://www.goldpage.kharkov.com/r1.html According to Viktor Levchuk, head of the department of religious matters of the Kharkiv regional administration, problems in the Kharkiv region may arise over the Cathedral of the Assumption. Three Orthodox denominations, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, have claims on the cathedral. It is still unknown to whom the authorities will give preference. According to Levchuk, various factors, including the history of the church’s foundation and the financial resources of the religious communities, will be taken into account. Today, the Cathedral of the Assumption occupies the Kharkiv philharmonic hall and is home to a unique organ, consisting of 3,500 organ-pipes. Czech craftsmen made the organ especially for the Cathedral of the Assumption and there is no other building in Kharkiv where the organ’s unique sound can be preserved. To achieve the same acoustic effects and the proper temperature in a new building will take time and money. A special group of experts and an interdepartmental commission will be assigned to deal with these issues. By the end of the year, the cabinet of ministers of Ukraine will make a final decision on the Kharkiv Cathedral of the Assumption. The erection of the Cathedral of the Assumption was begun in 1771 and finished in 1777. The cathedral was built to replace a wooden church that burned down. The bell tower of the cathedral was constructed from 1821 to 1844. The last time the cathedral was repaired was in 1985 and 1986.

Sources: http://www.statusquo.com.ua and http://i-news.org