Turku Orthodox parish plans legal action over church damage

The Orthodox Parish of Turku plans to sue the City of Turku over damage to the Orthodox Church, Yle reports. The parish council decided on Monday to propose the action to the parish assembly.

The case would seek compensation. The parish says an easement agreement signed by the parties around the turn of the millennium makes the city liable for damage caused by construction in the surrounding area.

The church is sinking and leaning, and cracks have appeared in its walls.

Turku has rejected the compensation claim. Parish priest Ioannis Lampropoulos says the city argued in its response that the parish’s grounds did not apply and that the claim was time-barred.

“The church is a landmark of Turku and a building of cultural and historical significance. Responsibility for taking care of it belongs to all of us, including the city,” Lampropoulos said.

Underground parking facilities called Louhi and Toriparkki have been built near the church over the years. The surface of the Market Square has also been renovated. The parish believes the damage to the building accelerated as a result of the underground construction.

Repairs to the church are scheduled to begin in April, with an estimated cost of about four million euros. The parish provisionally requested 2.8 million euros in compensation from the city in the spring. Lampropoulos said the exact amount would become clear if and when the case proceeds.