§ 179. Reincorporation of existing corporations. Any Ukrainian Orthodox church heretofore incorporated, other than those incorporated under the provisions of article five of the religious corporations law, may reincorporate under the provisions of this article, by filing in the county clerk's office in the county in which its principal place of worship is located, a certificate, signed by the trustees in office at the time of such reincorporation, or by the majority of them, setting forth that they desire to reincorporate under the provisions of this article, the corporate name by which such church shall be known, the county, town, city or village where its place of worship is or is intended to be located, and the number and the names of the trustees who are to hold office until the next annual meeting of said corporation. If the bishop or archbishop having ecclesiastical jurisdiction over such church is not one of the trustees signing the certificate of reincorporation, such certificate shall not be valid until said bishop or archbishop has given his assent in writing to such reincorporation and the same is made a part of the certificate. Immediately upon the filing of such certificate all the right, title and interest of such organization or corporation in any estate, real or personal, shall, with all franchise and charter rights, be vested in said body corporate and politic so created under this article and the original incorporation of such organization shall be null and void.

The incorporation of a new church or reincorporation of an old church under this article shall not be valid until the same has been approved by a justice of the supreme court.