Dumenko: Anyone who wants to live as a monk in the Lavra can do so

Serhiy Dumenko says Lavra's brethren want to join the OCU. Photo: a screenshot of the OCU's YouTube channel

Serhiy Dumenko in an interview with the Orthodox Times assured that the brethren of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra want to go to the OCU.

He said that the Lavra in the UOC is "a place from which the ideology of the ‘Russian world’ has been spreading" and its abbot, Metropolitan Pavel "is known for his love for luxurious lifestyle and especially for Mercedes cars, the media even began to call him ‘Pavel- Mercedes’”.

According to Dumenko, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is now "part of the OCU".

"We also keep regular contact with other Lavra monks awaiting the final decisions of the state regarding the Lavra buildings. They want to remain in the Lavra Monastery as a part of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and we are ready to receive them. We will renew the Lavra Monastery," Dumenko said.

He stressed, "Anyone who wants to pray to God and live as a monk in the Lavra Monastery can do so. However, anyone who wants to pray and serve the “Russian world” must leave.”

As reported, Dumenko assures the OCU will not violate the Tomos terms.

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