Attorney Nikita Chekman, representing the interests of the monastery, said in court that representatives of the state reserve “Kiev-Pechersk Lavra” sealed a total of five buildings of the monastery of the same name. DEA News and also publishes relevant eyewitness images. Chekman spoke at a court hearing about a lawsuit filed by the “Kiev-Pechersk Lavra” National Reserve in connection with the damage caused by the use of property to the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
It was previously reported that the monastery did not recognize the allegations and found them unfounded.
The lawyer stated that the court needed to know which specific cases were closed, as the case materials did not contain the relevant evidence. He also noted that the plaintiff must notify the court which buildings were sealed in order to resolve the issue of the violation of his rights. Another participant from the monastery’s side, who attended the meeting, drew attention to the fact that Metropolitan Pavel, the abbot of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, did not sign acts of transfer of property, although he had the right only to himself.
On July 6, representatives of the reserve reportedly sealed off three buildings of the Lavra in the presence of the police without legal basis. One of the sealed buildings was the residence of Metropolitan Onufry, archbishop of the UOC. Maxim Ostapenko, the reserve’s interim director, said the commission will seal the Lavra’s buildings except those necessary for the monks to live. He did not specify whether the caves containing the relics of the saints would be sealed. The Ministry of Culture demanded the release of two more Lavra buildings by 10 July. The Russian Orthodox Church described the seizure of buildings in the Lavra by Ukrainian authorities as “open lawlessness”.
It was also reported that on the territory of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. fixed cases of beating parishioners.
Former Ukrainian authorities emerging plans to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.