Vladimir Legoyda, Head of the Synodal Department for Church, Society and Media Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, said:
The decision of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine to evacuate the monks from the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is arbitrary and terror. wrote about him telegraph channel.
“The decision of the Ukrainian authorities to stop the monks’ access to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is another act of blatant arbitrariness,” said a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).
Legoyda compared this decision to the anti-church persecution of 1920-1930, but stressed that “at that time words of condemnation were heard from Western countries at least against atheists” and now “there is only silence”. It was considered a sign of support for the persecution.”
According to him, there is currently “terrorism against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC)” in Ukraine.
“The Ukrainian Church is seen as an enemy because it has a common spiritual heritage with the Russian Church,” said Legoyda, adding that this was enough to “considerate liquidation.”
Formerly the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine compulsory UOC priests will leave the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra before July 4.