UOC-KP serves in Little Sophia without permits, - human rights defender

The management of the National Reserve "Sophia of Kyiv" cannot provide documents confirming the transfer of the Refectory, known as the Little or Warm Sophia to the Kyiv Patriarchate for the use. This is stated in the answer of the Reserve to the request of the NGO "Public Advocacy", the head of the organization Oleg Denisov wrote on his Facebook page.

"The National Reserve "Sophia of Kyiv" does not know the decisions (directives, orders) of a state body or an official about the transfer of the church Little (Warm) Sophia to the UOC-Kyiv Patriarchate or other religious organization for the use because the Reserve has not received anything to its address," the response to the request said.

In addition, the management of the Reserve explains that the services of the UOC-KP in Little Sofia have been held since 2016 as part of excursion services for those who bought tickets.

The Conservation Area is believed to provide equal rights to all faiths for conducting worship services in the Sophia of Kyiv. Thus, the document mentions the "systematic" services of the UAOC since 1992 and of the UOC – since 1996.

Earlier, by the decision of the Ministry of Culture, the Kyiv Patriarchate was allowed to conduct services in the Refectory, known as the Little or Warm Sophia of the National Reserve "Sophia of Kyiv".