The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine ordered the priests of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church to leave the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra before July 4. In this respect reported Attorney Nikita Chekman, acting in the interests of the UOC.
The document from the Ministry of Culture states that the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Reserve has decided to terminate the access of the monastery residents to the buildings.
By order of the reserve, a commission was created to seal the premises, which will begin work on July 4. In this context, the UOC monks are asked to evacuate the building and hand over the keys to the reservation.
The situation around the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra escalated after the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine informed the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the unilateral termination of the monastery’s lease, the monks were asked to leave the Lavra on March 29. Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko said the monks can stay in the Lavra, provided they are transferred to the schismatic Orthodox Church in Ukraine.
On April 1, a Kiev court appointed Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed), the governor of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, as a restraining measure in the form of house arrest and a ban on addressing believers.
Former Ukrainian authorities emerging plans to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.