Mukachevo Greek Catholic Diocese is waiting for the return of historical property

Church property issues shook Uzhgorod at the beginning of summer. 

 Uzhgorod city council at a regular meeting voted for the transfer of the building in the historic center of the city to the former owner – Mukachevo Greek Catholic Diocese. The building was built back in 1870, in 1883, the diocesan dormitory Alumneum was located there. About 80 boys, who were studying in the Uzhgorod Greek-Catholic Gymnasium, lived there. Later, by 1947, Uzhgorod theological seminary moved there.  

After that, in 1955, during the prohibition of the Greek Catholic Church, the old building at Kapitulna st., 18 was transferred to Uzhgorod National University.  

Now, the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Diocese appeals to the city authorities every time asking them to return their former property. The process is slow, of course, and not always easy, but the diocese in the years after the legalization of the church returned only 30% of the property in the region. According to Bishop Nil, everything depends on local authorities, deputies. 

All three parties – the diocese, the university and the city hall – met to reslove the controversial situation amicably. They agreed that the building would become the property of the diocese, that would restore it and make a dormitory for students of UzhNU in the historic building. 

Now, the diocese is waiting for the signature of the mayor, that would confirm the ownership of the building at Kapitulna st., 18, but for unknown reasons it is delayed…