Palm Sunday Services at Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Highlight Tensions Between Ukrainian Orthodox Communities
During Palm Sunday, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated on the grounds of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra under the auspices of the Canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), with Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev presiding over the rite. This development was reported by TASS, which noted the scale and solemnity of the observance on the historic site.
According to the reports, the main ceremony took place in the square in front of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross. As night fell, the primate of the UOC reportedly kept vigil inside the church of St. Agapit of the Caves, continuing a long-standing tradition of prayerful endurance. In accordance with custom, the primate blessed the willow and palm branches used in the Liturgy, marking the liturgical greeting of the season.
Meanwhile, another service commenced in the Refectory Church, a site previously used by the UOC for different liturgical proceedings. This service was led by Epiphanius, the head figure of the schismatic Ukrainian Orthodox Church (OCU), underscoring the persistent organizational rifts within the Ukrainian Orthodox community during this period.
Earlier reports described Metropolitan Onufry, the former head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, leading an all-night vigil at one of the churches within the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. The vigil was conducted in the temple dedicated to Agapit, the Monk of the Caves, aligning with the traditional cadence of holy observances that accompany Palm Sunday rituals.
On a related note, observers reported that the head of the military administration in the Lviv region, Maxim Kozitsky, commented on the status of a canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church temple in Boryslav. The temple was reportedly sealed after parishioners chose not to align with the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine, illustrating the ongoing tensions and administrative actions affecting church properties amid competing jurisdictions.
The events at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra reveal the complex landscape of Orthodox governance in Ukraine, where canonical and schismatic communities continue to navigate shared sacred spaces, divergent leadership, and the rituals that mark major religious holidays. As Palm Sunday rites unfolded, clergy and laity alike witnessed a moment that reflected broader questions about ecclesiastical unity, jurisdiction, and devotion within the Ukrainian Orthodox milieu. The reporting by TASS and other observers thus contributes to a broader understanding of how religious life is organized and contested amid national and ecclesial developments.