In defense of UOC and Kiev Caves Lavra—OCA Archbishop of Chicago calls for increased prayer and fasting

Chicago, March 15, 2023

Photo: domoca.org Photo: domoca.org     

Shocked and saddened by the increasing persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the brotherhood of the Holy Dormition-Kiev Caves Lavra, as are all people possessing an Orthodox Christian conscience, the OCA hierarch of Chicago and the Midwest issued a statement on the matter yesterday.

His Eminence Archbishop Daniel reaffirms his prayerful support for the UOC and the Lavra and calls upon his flock ot increase their prayer and fasting in support of the Orthodox Christians of Ukraine.

His statement reads:

Faithful Orthodox Christians have now come to the third week of Great and Holy Lent. During this solemn period, each Christian examines their conscience and heart before Almighty God, falling down before Him in repentance. It is also during this time that we are called to heighten our love and attention to the needs of our neighbor. And, as our Lord has taught us, anyone in need is our neighbor. I have learned with great sadness that the monastics of the brotherhood of the Holy Dormition-Kiev Caves Lavra are being removed from their monastery as a result of political unrest in Ukraine. The Kiev Caves Lavra is the cradle of monasticism and spirituality of Kievan Rus and has been for over one thousand years. These very monks that are being removed are the stewards of this sacred place who helped restore the monastery in 1988, after they were allowed to return and restore monastic life and, finding the Lavra ravaged by war and suffering neglect at the hands of the Soviet government.

I want to reaffirm my continuing support and prayers, along with the clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Diocese of the Midwest, for His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, His Eminence Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod, the abbot of the holy monastery, and all of the monastics and faithful who dwell there.

I call upon the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of the Midwest to increase their prayer and fasting during this time, entreating the Lord to have mercy on brotherhood of the Lavra, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

It is before the most Holy Gifts that the celebrant recites the prayers of St. Basil the Great asking the Lord to remember those who serve in governments and all civil authorities. We continue this prayer and ask the Lord to inspire the elected leaders of Ukraine and of all nations, “grant them a secure and lasting peace; speak good things into their hearts concerning thy Church and all Thy people, that we, in their tranquility, may lead a calm and peaceful life in all godliness and sanctity.”

+DANIEL

Archbishop of Chicago and the Midwest

In February 2022, the primate of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of Washington and All America and Canada made a call for peace, and in December, he issued another statement, again calling for peace and reaffirming his support of the canonical UOC under His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine.

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3/15/2023

See also
Brotherhood of Kiev Caves Lavra has no intention of leaving, says abbot Brotherhood of Kiev Caves Lavra has no intention of leaving, says abbot Brotherhood of Kiev Caves Lavra has no intention of leaving, says abbot Brotherhood of Kiev Caves Lavra has no intention of leaving, says abbot
The brotherhood of the Holy Dormition-Kiev Caves Lavra has no intention of obeying the illegal demand of the Ukrainian state requiring them to leave their holy habitation by the end of the month. Minister of Culture calls relics of Kiev Caves “museum exhibits,” threatens Church with criminal responsibility Minister of Culture calls relics of Kiev Caves “museum exhibits,” threatens Church with criminal responsibility Minister of Culture calls relics of Kiev Caves “museum exhibits,” threatens Church with criminal responsibility Minister of Culture calls relics of Kiev Caves “museum exhibits,” threatens Church with criminal responsibility
The Ministry of Culture informed the brotherhood of the Lavra last week that they have until March 29 to entirely vacate the monastery. Russian Patriarch appeals to Local Churches and religious leaders about fate of Kiev Caves Lavra Russian Patriarch appeals to Local Churches and religious leaders about fate of Kiev Caves Lavra Russian Patriarch appeals to Local Churches and religious leaders about fate of Kiev Caves Lavra Russian Patriarch appeals to Local Churches and religious leaders about fate of Kiev Caves Lavra
The monastery has suffered numerous invasions and cases of persecution throughout its history, but it was only under the militantly atheistic government of the 20th century that the monks were driven out of the monastery, the Patriarch emphasizes. Kiev Caves Lavra appeals to all Orthodox monasteries for prayer Kiev Caves Lavra appeals to all Orthodox monasteries for prayer Kiev Caves Lavra appeals to all Orthodox monasteries for prayer Kiev Caves Lavra appeals to all Orthodox monasteries for prayer
On behalf of the monastics of the entire Ukrainian Orthodox Church, we ask for your holy prayers for peace, as well as to raise your voice with an appeal to those in power to put an end to the incitement of interfaith hatred in our long-suffering country. Kiev Lavra responds to schismatic claims: We’re loyal to the Church and Metropolitan Onuphry Kiev Lavra responds to schismatic claims: We’re loyal to the Church and Metropolitan Onuphry Kiev Lavra responds to schismatic claims: We’re loyal to the Church and Metropolitan Onuphry Kiev Lavra responds to schismatic claims: We’re loyal to the Church and Metropolitan Onuphry
Dumenko’s statement is part of the heavy state and schismatic propaganda aimed at completely evicting the Orthodox Church from the Lavra in favor of the graceless schismatics. Schismatics: We’ll get the whole Kiev Caves Lavra then go for Pochaev Schismatics: We’ll get the whole Kiev Caves Lavra then go for Pochaev Schismatics: We’ll get the whole Kiev Caves Lavra then go for Pochaev Schismatics: We’ll get the whole Kiev Caves Lavra then go for Pochaev
At the same time, the Uniate Greek Catholic church also has its eyes on the Pochaev Lavra, which they once occupied for a time in the 18th-19th centuries.
Comments
Pfmd3/16/2023 10:54 pm
On Saturday, March 11, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia addressed the primates of the Local Orthodox Churches and other religious leaders and representatives of international organizations concerning the fate of the Holy Dormition-Kiev Caves Lavra after the Ukrainian government announced its intention to completely expel the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the holy monastery, where it has prayed for the past 1,000 years. The Patriarch sent his appeal to the primates of the Local Orthodox Church, Pope Francis of Rome, Patriarch of the Coptic Church Tawadros II, head of the Anglican Communion Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches Dr. Jerry Pillay, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, OSCE General Secretary Helga Maria Schmid, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Matteo Mecacci.
Alex3/15/2023 11:40 pm
Cat: Exactly! Archbishop Daniel is a good man, and he has the gravitas to stand up for our Orthodox brothers and sisters in Ukraine. Most, but not all of our bishops, just sit on their hands and rock back and forth!
Cat3/15/2023 9:28 pm
Nobody else spoke in defense of the lavra brotherhood? Where is the rest of the orthodox world?
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