State Official Says Monks’ Presence Affects Tourism Access at Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

KYIV — The head of the state-run Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Preserve has said that the continued presence of Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) monks in part of the monastery complex is affecting efforts to expand public access and tourism at the site. His comments came amid an ongoing legal dispute between state authorities and the UOC over the use of the Lavra's Lower Territory.

In an interview with the LB Live channel, General Director Maxim Ostapenko said restrictions on parts of the Lower Lavra are connected to court proceedings following the government's 2023 decision to terminate the church's lease agreement. He argued that the current situation has complicated plans to develop the Lavra as a broader cultural and tourist destination.

The UOC has continued to maintain a presence at the monastery while the legal dispute proceeds. Ostapenko said the Near Caves were reopened to pilgrims in 2023 during designated hours, while the Far Caves remain inaccessible as litigation continues. He also noted that the court case has faced repeated delays, including multiple judge recusals, with the next hearing scheduled for July 22.

The dispute over the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra has become part of broader tensions in Ukraine regarding state control of religious sites and the status of the UOC. Critics of the government's actions have argued that restrictions on the monastery interfere with religious life, while state officials have defended their efforts as necessary to resolve legal and administrative issues surrounding the historic complex.

Previously, the UOJ reported that critics warned that a planned National Pantheon at Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra threatened the Orthodox shrine.