Ostapenko expects KDAiS to vacate Lavra before September 11

Acting Director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve Maksym Ostapenko. Photo: ukrinform.ua

The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve expects the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary to “voluntarily” vacate the monastery buildings and remove their property before September 11, 2023. The acting director of the reserve Maksym Ostapenko told Ukrinform about this.

Ostapenko noted that KDAiS has no legitimate reason to stay on the territory of the Lavra.

According to him, the reserve is not a power structure, and therefore expressed the hope that representatives of theological schools will “voluntarily” vacate the four occupied premises.

In addition, Ostapenko believes that the fate of KDAiS should be determined by the Ukrainian government. Only then, as the official noted, can the theological educational institution "exist within the Lavra."

“Either the seminary must establish relations with the state, undergo official accreditation. <…> or this issue should simply be removed,” he said.

One of the teachers of the seminary told the UOJ that KDAiS is already moving its belongings to the Holosiiv Monastery in Kyiv and hopes to start the academic process at the new location from September 12, 2023.

As the UOJ reported, the Reserve forbade access to the Lavra for KDAiS students and teachers.

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