Court of Appeals returns Pochaiv Lavra skete to state ownership

The Holy Spirit Monastery in Pochaiv. Photo: Monastic Herald

On October 31, 2024, the Western Court of Appeals in Lviv reviewed an appeal against the decision of the Ternopil Economic Court to return three churches of the Holy Spirit Monastery in Pochaiv, previously under the UOC, to state ownership, reports Suspilne.

The appeal was filed by representatives of the monastery and Pochaiv Mayor Vasyl Boiko.

Mayor Boiko did not attend the session, submitting a letter of withdrawal from the appeal. Monastery representative Anatoliy Matsei stated via video link that the contested buildings were not historical landmarks and therefore not subject to property rights registration.

Maria Pereima, representing the Ternopil Regional Military Administration in court, argued that the monastery misled the administration by labeling the disputed properties as “brotherhood buildings” and “holy gates” to avoid legal consequences.

After reviewing the case, the court rejected the appeal and upheld the Ternopil Economic Court’s decision of August 14, 2024, assigning court costs to the plaintiff.

Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Tourism Ihor Kulchytsky commented on the court’s decision: “We are satisfied with the court's decision. The issue was that property rights on two religious buildings were improperly registered. The court overturned these rights, and the regional administration will now proceed with registering ownership of the remaining properties.”

The ruling takes effect immediately and may be appealed to the Supreme Court within 20 days of its announcement.

As previously reported by the UOJ, the Ternopil Regional Military Administration requested that law enforcement investigate Pochaiv Mayor Vasyl Boiko due to his appeal against the court’s decision to return Pochaiv Lavra buildings to state ownership.

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