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Expropriation of the UOC Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr

9 октября 2025 г.
ДонецкаяДОКУМЕНТИРУЕТСЯ
Expropriation of the UOC Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr

State expropriation of the UOC Cathedral of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Volodymyr

Cathedral address: Volyn Oblast, Volodymyr, Soborna Street, 25.

The ancient UOC Cathedral of the Dormition in Volodymyr became the target of government officials and extremists in 2023.

Local and then central authorities, in violation of the law, announced they would not renew the lease agreement with the church's religious community. This occurred amidst growing discrimination and persecution of Orthodox believers in Ukraine.

A lengthy trial followed, during which believers and clergy defended their right to the ancient holy site.

Orthodox Christians were brutally and violently expelled from their cathedral.

On April 21, 2023, at an extraordinary meeting of the Volodymyr City Council, deputies decided to terminate the lease agreement with the Volodymyr-Volynsky Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for the Holy Dormition Cathedral, St. Nicholas Church, and the diocesan administration.

This was reported by the press service of the Volodymyr City Council.

"In accordance with this decision, legal entities must register the termination of their right to permanent use of land plots in accordance with the procedure established by law. The city council's standing committee on urban development, architecture, land relations, forestry and water resources, and the agro-industrial complex is responsible for monitoring the implementation of this decision," the statement reads.

(Source: UOJ)

On November 15, 2023, the Volyn Regional Council announced its intention to appeal to the Cabinet of Ministers to terminate the lease agreement with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for the Dormition Cathedral.
The Volyn Regional authorities intend to deprive the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the right to use the Dormition Cathedral in the city of Volodymyr. These proposals were put forward by members of the regional council's committee on legality.

To terminate the cathedral lease agreement with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is valid until 2069, local authorities intend to submit a request to the Ukrainian government.

(Source: UOJ)

On March 9, 2024, members of the Volodymyr City Council wrote an appeal to the Ministry of Culture and the Prime Minister of Ukraine declaring the continued lease of the ancient Dormition Cathedral unacceptable.

The appeal states that the agreement between the Volyn Regional Administration and the religious community of the UOC Dormition Cathedral regarding the free use of the 1156 Dormition Cathedral itself, the building with its bell tower, and the walls and gates located at 25 and 27 Soborna Street in Volodymyr expires on July 1, 2024. The diocesan administration and the Volodymyr-Volyn Theological School also operate at this address.

The deputies stated that "due to the fact that the governing center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate is located outside of Ukraine, in a state that is waging armed aggression against Ukraine, the Volodymyr deputies demand that the agreement regarding the free use of the 12th-17th-century Dormition Cathedral complex by the UOC MP not be renewed." in Volodymyr and not to enter into other agreements with religious communities of the UOC-MP that would allow UOC-MP clergy to reside on the premises of this holy site."

(Source: UOJ)

On March 19, 2024, during an extraordinary session of the Volyn Regional Council, Deputy Andriy Bokoch demanded that UOC believers be evicted from the Assumption Cathedral in Volodymyr immediately.

Volyn Regional State Administration Deputy Chairperson Myroslava Yakymchuk stated that the agreement for the use of the Assumption Cathedral expires on July 1.

"The regional military administration will act in accordance with current legislation. The Volyn Regional Administration has no right to prohibit the activities of religious organizations. "There's nothing to report on now, because the contract is still in effect," said Myroslava Yakymchuk, announcing her intention not to renew the contract.

Andriy Bokoch was dissatisfied with this state of affairs and demanded that Volyn Regional State Administration Chairman Yuriy Pohulyayko ignore the illegality of this decision and immediately eject the worshippers from the cathedral.

"They need to be ejected, like they did in the Khmelnytskyi region. In one week, the regional state administration chairman terminated 200 lease agreements. The Volyn Regional State Administration Chairman says they'll sue, so let them. Don't wait until July 1st, just terminate them already," the deputy urged.

(Source: UOJ)

On April 26, 2024, Ihor Guz, a member of parliament from the "For the Future" party, announced that he had collected 21 signatures in the Verkhovna Rada to prevent the state from renewing the agreement for the use of the Volodymyr-Volynskyi Cathedral by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Diocese.

The complex of buildings includes, in addition to the Assumption Cathedral, the premises of the diocesan administration and the Volodymyr-Volyn Theological School.

"21 members of parliament supported my appeal to prevent the renewal of the UOC-MP's lease on the Assumption Cathedral in Volodymyr! The appeal, signed by parliamentarians, was sent to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak; Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal; and especially to the head of the Volyn Regional Military Administration, Yuriy Pogulyayko, who has long been known to lobby for the interests of the UOC-MP in Volyn. "To remind him, so to speak, that the country is at war with Russia, and the MP is the arm of the Russian Church in Ukraine," the member of parliament explains.

According to him, the lease on the holy site and its complex expires in two months, on July 1.

(Source: Guz's Facebook page)

On May 15, 2024, the Volyn Regional State Administration informed Metropolitan Volodymyr, rector of the religious community of the Holy Dormition Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, that it would not renew the lease for the free use of the holy site, which expires on July 1 of this year.

"For many years, the fervent prayers of the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have resounded in the cathedral. Daily services are held within these walls, vows are made before God here during the sacrament of marriage, the sacraments of baptism are completed here, and soldiers for the defense of Ukraine receive blessings here. It was here that the angels of the heroes who defended us on the battlefield, sacrificing their lives, were greeted. All these years, we have cared for the church, renovating it, repairing it, preserving it as a sacred place. So what's wrong? Why this decision?" “What is the reason?” the diocese asks.

In a letter to Metropolitan Volodymyr, officials note that the agreement for the free use of the cathedral by the UOC cannot be extended by mutual agreement. They also ask the religious organization of the Volodymyr-Volynsky Diocese of the UOC to vacate the cathedral and hand over the property by July of this year. A representative of the religious community is requested to be included in the commission that will hand over the cathedral property.

The diocese stated that the authorities are simply trying to take away their faith, despite the fact that many UOC parishioners are currently at the front or helping soldiers in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

"The authorities want to take away our sacred treasure—the cathedral—but they will not take away what is most important—our Orthodox faith and loyalty to our Church. God is merciful, and He will not abandon us! We ask for your sincere prayers!" the Volodymyr-Volynsky Diocese of the UOC stated in a statement.

(Source: Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church)

On July 1, 2024, the Commercial Court rejected the claim of the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to extend the lease of the Holy Dormition Cathedral and adjacent premises, which house the diocesan administration.

The decision was published in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions.

The court ruled that the filed claim cannot be accepted by the Commercial Court of Volyn Oblast because it does not comply with the requirements of the Commercial Procedure Code of Ukraine. The plaintiff is required to register an electronic account in the Unified Judicial Information and Telecommunications System or its separate subsystem (module) within 10 days and notify the court accordingly. Otherwise, the claim is considered not filed.

(Source: Unified Register of Court Decisions of Ukraine)

On July 16, 2024, Volyn Regional Council deputy Andriy Bokoch, during a meeting of the temporary control commission, called for the sealing of the premises of the Holy Dormition Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Volodymyr.

After the sealing, Bokoch intends to sue the Volodymyr-Volynskyi Diocese, as the diocese is failing to comply with the Volyn Regional State Administration's decision to evict him from the premises.

"I believe it would be appropriate to seal the premises and only then go to court, because it is a historical monument and state property," he stated.

The next step in expelling the UOC from the cathedral is to invite law enforcement officials to the next meeting of the temporary control commission and jointly develop a strategy for returning the religious buildings to state ownership.

(Source: Volyn Regional Council)

On July 30, 2024, Volyn Regional State Administration deputy Andriy Bokoch issued threats of physical violence against parishioners and clergy of the cathedral.

Bokoch "warned" that if the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church do not leave the Dormition Cathedral and other premises in Volodymyr, then "a determined public will begin to administer its own justice."

Bokoch spoke about a meeting between Volyn Regional State Administration deputies and law enforcement officials regarding the situation surrounding the cathedral, diocesan administration, and theological school of the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese. He said the Regional State Administration informed him of the status of lawsuits regarding the termination of the contract with the UOC diocese.

The deputy firmly believes that the holy site must be sealed before moving on to legal action. This time, he decided to put pressure on his colleagues and law enforcement officials.

"I also once again emphasized the importance of preventing arbitrary action and exceeding the legal framework amid the escalating conflict, as a moment may come when believers will be unstoppable, and no one—neither law enforcement, nor officials, nor politicians—will be able to resist while a determined public will dispense its own justice," Bokoch stated.

(Source: Bokoch's Facebook page)

On August 1, 2024, the Volyn Regional Council filed a lawsuit against the Volodymyr-Volynskyi Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The Volyn Regional Military Administration, together with deputies led by Ihor Guz, want to evict the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Assumption Cathedral in Volodymyr-Volynskyi, which also includes the diocesan administration and theological school of the Volodymyr-Volynskyi Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The lawsuit will be heard by the Commercial Court of the Volyn Region.

(Source: UOJ)

On November 12, 2024, the Commercial Court of Volyn Oblast held a hearing on the case regarding the termination of the contract for the gratuitous use of the UOC Dormition Cathedral complex in Volodymyr.

The court ruled not to renew the contract with the UOC and to collect 3,000 hryvnias in court fees. The UOC has the right to appeal this decision.

The interests of the UOC were represented by attorney Kateryna Pegza, who proposed renewing the contract with the plaintiff on a paid basis.

Representatives of the UOC did not submit an application for renewal of the lease, and the attorney noted that the claim had previously been returned to the Commercial Court. The plaintiff, represented by Oleksandr Garnola, legal counsel for the Volyn Regional State Administration, stated that the agreement for the gratuitous use of the Assumption Cathedral complex would not be extended.

Judge Igor Garbar, after hearing the parties, ruled to uphold the Volyn Regional Military Administration's claim and obligate the UOC religious community to return the complex of religious buildings located at 25-27 Soborna Street in Vladimir, including the Assumption Cathedral, the bell tower, and the walls with the gates, which are considered architectural monuments of national significance. The transfer of the buildings must be formalized by the signing of an acceptance certificate.

(Source: UOJ)

On December 30, 2024, the religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church filed an appeal against the decision of the Volyn Regional Commercial Court to return the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr to the state.

This was reported by Andriy Bokoch, a member of the regional council's temporary control commission.

The appeal has been sent to the North-West Commercial Court of Appeal.

(Source: UOJ)

On March 11, 2025, the North-West Commercial Court of Appeals in Rivne ruled to expel the religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Assumption Cathedral in Volodymyr.

The decision of the North-West Commercial Court of Appeals was the result of a legal dispute between the Volyn Regional State Administration and the religious community of the Assumption Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Volodymyr.

The ruling entered into force on the day of its adoption, although it can still be appealed to the Supreme Court.

(Source: Unified Register of Court Decisions)

On March 31, 2025, representatives of the State Enforcement Service visited the UOC Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr and officially warned the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese to vacate the premises.

According to the publication Bug, the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese has already been fined for failing to vacate the cathedral.

According to journalists, the next step could be forced eviction.

(Source: UOJ)

On April 10, 2025, the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church filed a petition with the Commercial Court of the Volyn Oblast to extend the eviction period from the Assumption Cathedral complex.

Archpriest Nikita Chekman, a lawyer for the UOC, justified the request by citing that the diocese needs time to remove property from the cathedral, diocesan administration, and theological school premises expropriated by the state.

He requests a six-month deferment for the enforcement of the decision to transfer the UOC Holy Dormition Cathedral complex to the state.

The Volyn Regional Commercial Court has scheduled a hearing for April 29 to consider this matter.

(Source: UOJ)

On April 24, 2025, the Volyn Regional Commercial Court held another hearing in the case regarding the eviction of the Volodymyr-Volynskyi Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Holy Dormition Cathedral complex in Volodymyr-Volynskyi, which also houses the diocesan administration and the Volodymyr-Volynskyi Theological School.

In court, representatives of the Volodymyr-Volynsky Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church filed a motion to overturn the March 11 eviction decision of the Northwestern Commercial Court of Appeals, citing a technical error in the documents. It turned out that the court documents had stated "religious community" instead of "religious organization."

However, the court ruled that this inaccuracy did not affect the merits of the case, as the name of the party and its other important identifying information were correctly stated. Therefore, the motion of the Volodymyr-Volynsky Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to overturn the decision due to a technical error was denied, and the eviction decision remains in effect.

(Source: UOJ)

On April 29, 2025, the Volyn Oblast Commercial Court held a hearing to consider the petition of the Volodymyr-Volynsky Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The diocese requested an extension of the eviction period from the premises of the Assumption Cathedral.

The court partially granted the petition.

The UOC Diocese requested six months to transfer the UOC Holy Dormition Cathedral complex to the state.

Lawyers explained that the diocese needed time to remove property from the cathedral, diocesan administration, and theological school buildings expropriated by the state.

The court ordered a one-month postponement of the eviction – the community must vacate the church complex by May 29.

(Source: UOJ)

On May 29, 2025, a representative of the religious community of the UOC parish filed an appeal, claiming that the decision to evict the UOC parish violated his personal rights.

The appeal suspends the Volyn Regional Commercial Court's decision mandating the vacating of the premises until May 29.

This means the State Enforcement Service cannot begin proceedings to expel the believers from their holy site.

"On May 27, the North-West Commercial Appeals Court in Rivne opened an appeal based on a petition filed by an individual who was not involved in case No. 903/693/24 but claimed their rights had been violated," the publication writes.

The appeal has been accepted, and a new hearing is scheduled for June 19 at the North-West Commercial Appeals Court. Until then, the court's decision to evict the UOC community from the Dormition Cathedral cannot be implemented.

(Source: UOJ)

On June 3, 2025, the eviction process of the religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir was suspended due to the Supreme Court beginning to consider the religious organization's appeal against previous decisions of the economic and appellate courts.

The North-West Economic Appellate Court suspended proceedings in case No. 903/693/24 due to the Supreme Court's opening of cassation proceedings.

All case materials must be transferred to the cassation court, where the case hearing was scheduled for July 8, 2025.

(Source: UOJ)

On August 7, 2025, the Northern Commercial Court of Appeals in Kyiv heard the appeal of the religious community of the UOC-Vladimir Assumption Cathedral against the decision of the court of first instance to prohibit the state, represented by the Volyn Regional Military Administration, from performing any actions with their sacred relic.

The UOC lawyer emphasized that the religious community has property rights to the cathedral because it owns and uses it, and therefore has the right to seek legal protection. Citing case law, he argued that state registration is not the same as acquiring ownership.

The Volyn Regional State Administration's attorney stated that no actions are being taken against the cathedral that could harm the community. However, he added that since the cathedral is a site of national significance and is located within the Ancient Volodymyr State Preserve, any actions—even purely legal ones—must be coordinated with the Ministry of Culture.

As a result, the panel of judges dismissed the appeal. The Kyiv Commercial Court's ruling denying the claim was upheld. This means the state is not prohibited from carrying out registration actions.

(Source: UOJ)

On October 7, 2025, Metropolitan Volodymyr of Volodymyr-Volynskyi and Kovel addressed the clergy, monastics, and faithful of the diocese with a call to prayer in connection with the possible loss of the Dormition Cathedral and the theological school attached to it in Volodymyr, Volyn Oblast.

The bishop reported on legal proceedings that could threaten the future prayer life of the diocesan holy sites.

"Currently, legal cases are ongoing that pose a threat to the peaceful life of our majestic holy site—the ancient Dormition Cathedral. There is a risk that the church will cease to be filled with prayer, and its premises may be used for other purposes, which contradicts the very essence of its creation," he said.

The bishop also noted that the education of students at the theological school, which has long been an important center of education in Volyn, is at risk.

Metropolitan Volodymyr emphasized that current events threaten not only church life but also violate the rights of Ukrainian citizens.

"I would like to delicately remind you that the constitutional and religious rights of our faithful, the rights of Ukrainian citizens to faith and freedom of conscience, are being infringed," the UOC hierarch noted.

The diocesan administration building, which could also be seized, according to the archpastor, is an important center of spiritual and organizational life, uniting approximately three hundred parishes of the Volodymyr-Volynsk Diocese.

At the end of his address, Metropolitan Volodymyr called on his flock to unite in prayer: "I call upon all the faithful to sincere prayer that the Lord will provide a just and peaceful resolution to this situation. Let us pray together that the Lord will soften the hearts of those who wish harm upon our Church, community, or people, and that love and peace will prevail – for the good of the Church and the state of our Ukraine."

(Source: Volodymyr-Volynsk Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church)

On October 10, 2025, the state seized the buildings of the cathedral, diocesan administration building, and theological school of the Volodymyr-Volynsk Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

According to eyewitnesses, the complex was surrounded by police, and worshippers were not allowed into the church. Government officials were on site conducting an "inventory of the property."

Published videos and photos show dozens of police cars arriving at the church. Believers gathered outside the cathedral, many arriving overnight to protect the sacred site. Despite the congregation's requests, access to the church remained closed.

According to eyewitnesses, authorities and unidentified individuals were inside the cathedral, inspecting the premises and filming. Believers reported that this occurred without the participation of clergy.

Security forces and radicals used force against believers, students of the theological school and clergy.

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers obstructed filming, took away phones, and beat the faithful with batons. Deacon Bohdan, who served in the Assumption Cathedral, was particularly hard hit.

He was beaten on the legs and back, strangled, and pulled by the hair. An ambulance was called to the scene, but it was not allowed to reach the victim for a long time.

On October 12, 2025, after the authorities sealed the Assumption Cathedral, Metropolitan Volodymyr of Volynsk and Kovel celebrated the Liturgy in the chapel, while the faithful were forced to pray outside.

Some of the faithful were seated inside a small chapel, while others prayed outdoors.

It rained during the service. But this did not stop the parishioners – people stood with and without umbrellas, offering prayers to God.

(Source: UOJ)

On January 14, 2026, MP Ihor Guz announced that the Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr, from which the UOC community was expelled in 2025, had been transferred "to the balance sheet" of the OCU.

Guz called this decision "unequivocally correct and fair." He assured that under the OCU, the Dormition Cathedral would be "Ukrainian and vibrant."

The MP stated that the first OCU "service" would soon be held at the cathedral, led by what Guz called the "abbot" of this organization, Epiphanius Dumenko. Guz also expressed confidence that the Zimne and Nyzkynichi monasteries would be taken from the UOC in favor of the OCU.

(Source: Guz's Facebook page)

КУ ст. 35 (свобода вероисповедания) · ЕСПЧ ст. 9 · Нормы ООН