On 3 April, 2024, the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court for the first time recognized the transition of the community from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine as lawful.
On 3 April, 2024, MORIS associates successfully concluded the prolonged dispute in the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court.
The dispute arose in 2019 when the religious community of Kalynivka village (Zhytomyr region) decided to switch from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, but this decision was challenged in court.
The Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the community and confirmed the legality of this transition, which is crucial for the religious community.
Furthermore, the court's decision holds significant importance for other religious communities of the OCU, as it establishes a precedent for protecting their rights in legal proceedings.
Currently, there are over 50 similar cases, and since the beginning of 2019, approximately 1700 transitions to the OCU have occurred. The Grand Chamber's decision will help protect the religious rights of communities across Ukraine.
