Court Decides Zhytomyr Community Can Keep Church and Change Orthodox Jurisdiction


June 26/05 - RISU - Malyn– On 1 June 2005, the Supreme Court of Ukraine canceled the decision of former Zhytomyr governor Ryzhuk, according to which the community of the Protection of the Mother of God in the town of Malyn, in central Ukraine's Zhytomyr region, could not move to the jurisdiction of the Rusyn Orthodox Church-Abroad (ROC-A). By this decision the court found the transfer of the community from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate to the Rusyn Orthodox Church Abroad legal. The community is also entitled to keep the church which was also claimed by part of the community which decided not to move to the ROC-A.

Orthodox (ROC-A) Church in Zhytomyr Region Given to UOC-MP Orthodox


Mar 22/05 - RISU - Newly appointed governor Ryzhuk of the central Ukrainian Zhytomyr region decided to transfer the Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in the village of Malyn, which belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church-Abroad (ROC-A), headed by Metropolitan Lavr, to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP). The press service of the ROC-A reported the news on 15 March 2004.

According to the press service of the ROC-A, the National Committee on Religious Matters advised the church to go to court. Representatives of the ROC-A believe that the UOC-MP together with certain state bodies started a campaign to discredit their church. 

As RISU reported in January 2004, John Herbst, US ambassador to Ukraine, who according to the US Embassy in Kyiv is a member of the ROC-A, acquainted himself with the situation of the Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in the village of Malyn and studied the documents about the church. 

According to Anton Bezditko, deputy head of the Department for Nationalities, Migration and Religion at the Zhytomyr regional administration, the conflict arose within the community. After it went out of the UOC-MP and transferred to the eparchy of the ROC-A, headed by Bishop Ahafanhel (Pashkovskyi), the change of jurisdiction was registered at the department. 

However, Bezditko continued, part of the faithful did not agree with this decision and decided to stay in the UOC-MP. Bezditko noted that his department did not interfere in the conflict or receive a decree on the church transfer from the governor. Bezditko added that he knew the community received such a decree. He stated that the problem remains unresolved and it is important to prevent violence. 

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

--Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights--

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Any Conversion to Christianity which would be "Forced" would NOT be recognized by God. It is in His True and KIND nature, that those who come to Him and choose to believe in Him, must come to Him OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL.



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Core Universal Rights

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one's belief or religion
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