UOC: None of the Lavra monks, except one, defect to OCU

Metropolitan Anthony, UOC Chancellor. Photo: pravoslavye.org.ua

Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, the UOC Chancellor, denied the information of some media that, following the sacristan of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Abramius (Lotysh), other monks of the monastery began to defect to the OCU.

“The decision taken by Father Abramius is the sole one,” said the bishop. “Unfortunately, false information began to spread in the media about the mass transfer of the monastery brethren to the OCU. I want to officially declare: such information is not true. At the moment, no one, except Father Abramius, has joined the OCU.”

The bishop stressed that the decision of the former sacristan contradicts the fundamentals of monasticism, which he professed during his tonsure, “in particular, such as humility and obedience to the hierarchy”.

“We live in a world in which there is room for both exploits and betrayal. Even among the closest disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, there was a traitor, Judas Iscariot,” Vladyka noted. “It is obvious that the former sacristan of the Lavra, no matter how beautiful words he used, in fact, preferred the earthly instead of the heavenly and joined the ranks of traitors.”

“Despite the position of Father Abramius, we pray that the All-Merciful Lord, Whose name is Love, would reason with him, and he would return to the canonical Church,” Metropolitan Anthony added.

As reported, on March 29, 2023, Epifaniy Dumenko appointed Archimandrite Abramius, who defected to the OCU, "acting abbot" of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine banned the former monk of the Lavra from the priesthood for falling into schism, without the right to commune the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

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