ODESA — On March 9, 2010, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) met with the mayor of Odesa, Eduard Hurvits. The parties discussed the participation of the UGCC in the spiritual development of the city and the allocation of land for the construction of the Cathedral of the Protection of the Holy Mother of God of the UGCC.

According to od-news.com, Patriarch Lubomyr awarded Eduard Hurvits with a medal of the 10^th anniversary of headship of Patriarch Lubomyr as a sign of personal respect.

“I greet the mayor of Odesa as he is known not only in Odesa but outside it as well. We are pleased to have a chance to exchange thoughts with him about the position of our Church in Odesa. I am glad that in this city live Greek Catholics, the faithful of our Church, and that they contribute to the spiritual development of the city,” noted the head of UGCC.  

In response the mayor said: “We continue the work of returning property to various churches that was confiscated from them during the Soviet era, work which began in the 90s. As for the UGCC, you raised the question of allocating a land plot in Prokhoriv public garden and the decision was passed by the executive committee.”

He also explained that the problem is that according to the law, consent of the state ecological expertise is needed and stressed that the ministry “caused a delay in issuing the decision.” “It is still pending, therefore, we are not able to make the next step to settle the issue,” concluded the mayor.