Kyiv authorities demand demolition of canonical UPC church

The city authorities of Kyiv have issued a demand to demolish the Transfiguration of the Savior Church belonging to the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

This was reported by the Union of Orthodox Journalists.

The church’s rector, Archpriest Alexander Prochenko, and parishioners were ordered to dismantle the building themselves by June 9. In the event of refusal, officials threatened forced demolition.

The Transfiguration of the Savior Church is located in a park on the grounds of a former tuberculosis clinic on Avtozavodska Street. It has been in operation since 2012 — the congregation reached an agreement with the management of the medical facility to operate the church on that site.

In May, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on the UN Secretary-General’s High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Moratinos, to draw attention to the persecution of the canonical UOC. In April, Lavrov noted that Russia was watching “with bitterness” what the rejection of spiritual and civilizational roots was leading to in Ukraine.

Earlier, a survey of Ukrainians showed support for the persecution of the UOC.