Canonical Disciplinary Actions Shake Up the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra
A recent official statement describes disciplinary measures taken against Archimandrite Avraamy Lotysh, a resident of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra who had been named abbot by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The canonical church authority, acting from its central leadership, announced that Avraamy was barred from performing church duties within the UOC framework. The announcement appeared on the church’s own website, signaling a formal move within the church hierarchy.
The report indicates that the restrictions were imposed by church leadership to prevent internal division and to uphold the oath of church service. The ban was issued by the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Primate, Metropolitan Onufry Berezovsky, who served as the Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine at the time. This action underscores the central authority of the metropolitans in governing clergy assignments and enforcing canonical discipline within the church.
At the same time, Metropolitan Epiphany, former head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that broke away under the secessionist line, had previously appointed Lotysh as the acting administrator at the Lavra. This sequence reflects the ongoing struggle over jurisdiction and allegiance among different branches seeking control over key religious sites and leadership within Ukraine.
Beyond internal church debates, officials in Ukraine pressed for the monks at Kiev-Pechersk Lavra to vacate the historic compound. Avraamy urged the monks who remained within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to stay and continue their monastic life there. Yet reports from Strana.ua described a push toward reconciling with the new canonical reality, suggesting a shift in loyalties toward the independent church structure. This tension highlights how rapidly shifting ecclesiastical alignments can affect monastic communities and their future at such a venerable site. [Source attribution: Ukrainian Orthodox Church internal communications]