Reserve Officials Seize Lavra Church Amid Ongoing Legal Dispute

KYIV, UKRAINE — As reported by UOJ-Ukraine, tensions at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra escalated June 11 after representatives of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve reportedly entered the academic Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, prompting accusations of unlawful conduct from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

According to Archpriest Nikita Chekman, a lawyer representing the UOC, reserve employees cut off locks and gained access to the church despite ongoing legal disputes concerning the use of Lavra properties. He argued that the action was taken before the courts had reached final decisions regarding the contested buildings and therefore constituted a violation of established legal procedures.

The incident is the latest development in the long-running conflict between the monastery community and state authorities over access to and control of facilities within the historic monastic complex. Church representatives contend that actions affecting monastery buildings should not proceed while litigation remains unresolved.

Fr. Chekman criticized the reserve’s administration, alleging that similar measures have occurred previously and describing the latest entry into the church as another infringement on the rights of the monastic community. He maintained that the dispute should be settled through the judicial process rather than through unilateral actions taken before court proceedings have concluded.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Ukrainian police seized control of St. Michael Monastery in Pereyaslav.