MinCulture fails to seize Lavra buildings 57-58 without security forces
The Ministry of Culture failed to seize the Lavra's new buildings without security forces. Photo: UOJ
On July 10, 2023, the commission of the reserve represented by acting directors M. Ostapenko and A. Ovchar tried to break into the 57th and 58th buildings of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in order to seal them and replace the locks. However, the priests and believers did not let representatives of the Ministry of Culture inside, the UOJ correspondent reports.
The commission had to withdraw.
One of Lavra's lawyers, Volodymyr Lubyanetsky, in a comment to seminarian Mykhailo Pratsiuk, stated that representatives of the Ministry of Culture were unable to seize the building without security forces.
"Today, parishioners stood near the buildings 57 and 58 as a human shield, and, accordingly, they did not manage to seize the buildings," said the lawyer. He connects this with the fact that this time there were no special forces with the commission.
"Nobody knows when there will be the next go-ahead for seizure, and whether forceful methods will be used then," concluded Lubyanetsky.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Ministry of Culture demanded that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church vacate two more buildings of the Lavra.
Read also
Relics of St. Tikhon Visit Belgorod, Will Continue Nationwide Procession in Russia
Faithful gather at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral to venerate relics of Patriarch-Confessor.
New Hampshire Becomes 20th State to Ban All Gender Transition Procedures for Minors
Governor Ayotte signs laws prohibiting surgeries, hormones, and puberty blockers for youth.
Media: Abp. of Cyprus blackmails Pat. Bartholomew with Onuphry mention
Fr. Evangelos Papanikolaou claims that Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus will commemorate Met. Onuphry of Kyiv (UOC) if Constantinople overturns controversial ruling on Met. Tychikos of Paphos.
WCC Demands 'Protection' for St. Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai
The WCC also passed resolutions on the Armenian Genocide and the terrorist attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus.
Russian Orthodox Church Provides Aid to Earthquake Victims
Volunteers from the Petropavlovsk and Kamchatka Diocese are providing food and aid at the Holy Trinity Cathedral’s humanitarian warehouse to support residents affected by a powerful 8.7-magnitude earthquake in Kamchatka.
Serbian Patriarch Slams 'Undemocratic' Ruling Against Republika Srpska Leader
Patrarch Porfirije condemned the verdict as "unlawful and undemocratic." He is a vocal supporter of autonomy for Bosnian Serbs.