Ukrainian faithful again come to the defense of the Kiev Caves Lavra

Kiev, July 5, 2023

Photo: Telegram Photo: Telegram     

Beginning in late March, the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church came out every day for weeks to prayerfully defend their beloved Kiev Caves Lavra against the state’s intention to evict the monks and seal up the churches and other buildings.

And the same happened again yesterday, when a commission from the Ministry of Culture, which legally owns the Kiev Caves Lavra, considering it a museum, came to inspect and seal up several buildings in the Lower Lavra, where the monks live and where the Caves are located. The Ministry’s aim is to find instances where the brotherhood has supposedly violated its agreement for usage of the monastery territory.

The commission was accompanied by several “activists” who regularly come out to provoke the parishioners and clergy of the monastery, reports the Union of Orthodox Journalists.

The UOJ then reported yesterday afternoon that the commission eventually left the Lavra without managing to seal up any of the buildings, as they were blocked from the entrances by the faithful of the UOC. The commission had intended to seal buildings with the monks’ cells and guest rooms, among others.

Before leaving, the members of the commission made a formal complaint to the police about the people who were blocking their way.

According to the Lavra’s lawyer, Archpriest Nikita Chekman, the monastery has never prevented representatives of the state-run Kiev Caves Lavra Museum and Preserve from exercising control over the property, but the intention of sealing the buildings is illegal, as the matter is currently being considered in court.

Beginning today, the Ministry of Culture has significantly reduced the schedule of the Lower Lavra. Previously, pilgrims could visit from 5:30 AM to 8:00 PM, but now they are restricted to visiting from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, which means they cannot attend early Liturgies.

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7/5/2023

See also
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The monastery anniversary also coincided with the name’s day of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, who celebrated the Liturgy in another Kiev monastery on Sunday. Court upholds Ukrainian Church’s eviction from the Upper Lavra Court upholds Ukrainian Church’s eviction from the Upper Lavra Court upholds Ukrainian Church’s eviction from the Upper Lavra Court upholds Ukrainian Church’s eviction from the Upper Lavra
The state is currently working to kick the Church out of the Lower Lavra as well, which is where the actual cave complexes are located. Demand that UOC leaves the Lavra is “illegal and groundless,” says Church’s Legal Department Demand that UOC leaves the Lavra is “illegal and groundless,” says Church’s Legal Department Demand that UOC leaves the Lavra is “illegal and groundless,” says Church’s Legal Department Demand that UOC leaves the Lavra is “illegal and groundless,” says Church’s Legal Department
The monastery never received a report on the results from the commission tasked with inspecting the state of the Lavra, nor did it receive any documentation supporting its conclusion. According to the Ministry of Culture, this information is classified, though a court has ordered that it be put at the monastery’s disposal. Bishop Theodosius of Seattle about the Kiev Caves Lavra: the government of Ukraine is acting like the Bolsheviks Bishop Theodosius of Seattle about the Kiev Caves Lavra: the government of Ukraine is acting like the Bolsheviks Bishop Theodosius of Seattle about the Kiev Caves Lavra: the government of Ukraine is acting like the Bolsheviks Bishop Theodosius of Seattle about the Kiev Caves Lavra: the government of Ukraine is acting like the Bolsheviks
Bishop Theodosius of Seattle
We see how today the same thing is happening as at the dawn of Soviet rule, only with a greater kind of blasphemy, because they find time to mock at the graves of the Primates of the UOC. Kiev Caves: State cuts off access to relics, dubbed “cultural values,” and three more churches Kiev Caves: State cuts off access to relics, dubbed “cultural values,” and three more churches Kiev Caves: State cuts off access to relics, dubbed “cultural values,” and three more churches Kiev Caves: State cuts off access to relics, dubbed “cultural values,” and three more churches
According to a letter sent to the Kiev Caves Lavra by the leadership of the state-owned Kiev Caves Lavra National Reserve, the brotherhood and faithful are now also cut off from both the Near and Far Caves and three other churches. The Caves are where the relics of hundreds of saints are located. 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.

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