On November 26, 2024, the Supreme Court of Ukraine concluded a lengthy legal dispute by ruling in favor of the National Architectural and Historical Reserve "Ancient Chernihiv" in a case against the Chernihiv Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) over the right to use the Savior-Transfiguration Cathedral. The reserve's director, Natalia Rebrova, declared, "Today, the matter is settled," according to TASS.

The conflict began in February 2023 when the reserve announced the termination of lease agreements for several religious sites, including the Trinity and Yeletsky Monasteries and the Savior-Transfiguration Cathedral. Despite legal challenges from the UOC seeking to validate these agreements, decisions by the Commercial Court, the Court of Appeal, and ultimately the Supreme Court ruled against the Church.

In the fall of 2023, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine transferred the cathedral and other sites into state ownership. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) has since expressed interest in the cathedral, with the reserve identifying the OCU as its partner for restoration efforts.

On November 1, 2024, the cathedral, no longer under UOC jurisdiction, hosted a screening of the first episode of the documentary project Chernihiv Principality: 1,000 Years, organized by the reserve. The event featured a screen set up in front of the Royal Doors, with attendees seated in the cathedral's nave.

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the UOC and the Ukrainian state, particularly regarding property and jurisdiction over religious sites, amidst the broader ecclesiastical and political landscape in Ukraine.