Attempted Seizure at Pochaiv Lavra Repelled by Seminarians

In Pochaiv, seminarians push back the attackers. [CREDIT: SPZh]

POCHAIV — On October 8, 2025, an attempted raid took place at the Pochaiv Lavra, one of the most revered monasteries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). UOJ (SPZh) reports that according to sources within the Lavra, unidentified individuals tried to seize the monastery’s Economic Building.

The attackers reportedly used power tools to cut through the locks on the main gates in an effort to break into the compound. Thanks to the quick reaction of the seminary students, the attempted incursion was stopped before the intruders could enter the building.

“The seminarians blocked the attackers and managed to push them back beyond the gates,” sources inside the Lavra said. The perpetrators then left the site but allegedly threatened to return with reinforcements.

The attack took place just hours after the SBU conducted searches on lavra grounds. According to Ternopilska Pravda, agents were ostensibly searching for documents that might concern the supposed “unlawful registration” of the church building, which is registered as an architectural monument.

The Ukrainian outlet Pervyi Kazatsky reported that among those present during the assault were identified government officials, including Serhiy Zasyadko, head of the Kremenets branch of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), and Vasyl Ilchyshyn, director of the Kremenets–Pochaiv Reserve.

The monastic brotherhood and faithful are now calling for prayer and public support in light of the attack.

UOJ-USA previously reported that authorities had press-ganged the abbot of the Lavra's Holy Trinity Skete into military service. Ukrainian Courts seized control of the skete in November 2024.

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