Metropolitan Pavel: All Orthodox shrines must be returned to believers

Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshhorod and Chornobyl. Photo: lavra.ua

Metropolitan Pavel, abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, said that all Orthodox shrines must be returned to believers in order to stop their destruction. He said this in an address published on the YouTube channel of the Lavra on the feast day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

According to the bishop, today there is no religious freedom in Ukraine, and the churches seized from the UOC are in desolation.

“There is a temple in honor of St. Nicholas on the upper territory of the Lavra. Unfortunately, it is in disrepair now. <…> Today we are talking about religious tolerance, we are talking about religious freedom. We don't have any of that. Today, the shrines must be returned to believers. They must not be destroyed. Believers do not ask the state for money. But the shrines belong to the people of God, the believing people. They are in our country and belong to our country – they cannot belong to anyone else. But they must be used what they are intended for,” said Metropolitan Pavel.

As the UOJ reported, the head of the Ministry of Culture, Oleksandr Tkachenko, said that there would be handicrafts in the Lower Lavra once the UOC was out.

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