Ukrainian Ministry Transfers Lower Lavra Buildings to OCU

Photo: Міністерство культури України and Національний заповідник Києво-Печерська лавра/Facebook

KYIV, UKRAINE — The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture announced on February 2 the transfer of two additional buildings in the Lower section of the Holy Dormition–Kiev Caves Lavra to the state-backed Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) for free use, continuing the state’s contested actions against the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

The buildings previously served as the residence of His Beatitude Metr. Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine and as the chancellery of the Kiev Metropolitanate of the UOC before the Church was expelled by the state. The Ministry claimed the transfer was intended to “create proper conditions for the full implementation of religious and monastic practices of the OCU community” and cited a supposed role in preserving national cultural heritage. It also accused the UOC brotherhood of promoting “Russian narratives,” without providing substantiation.

The OCU established a formal presence at the Lavra in May 2022, led by cleric Avraamy Latish, following the state’s expulsion of the canonical UOC from the Upper Lavra in January 2023. The Lower Lavra contains monastic cells and the Near and Far Caves, home to relics of over 100 saints, marking a site of Orthodox Christian spirituality for more than a millennium.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the Pochaiv Lavra called for prayer and strict fasting ahead of a state hearing to ban the UOC. 

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