The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has instructed the clergy of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church to depart from the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra by early July, a move confirmed by attorney Nikita Chekman who represents the UOC in the matter.
A formal notice from the Ministry indicates that the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Reserve has decided to restrict access for residents of the monastery to the buildings within the reserve grounds.
In response, the reserve has established a commission to seal the premises, with work slated to begin on July 4. The monks are therefore asked to relinquish their hold on the buildings and hand over the keys to the administration of the reserve.
The tension surrounding the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra intensified after the Ministry informed the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church that the monastery lease would be terminated unilaterally, and that the monks should vacate the Lavra by March 29. Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko stated that the monks could remain on site only if they were transferred to the schismatic Orthodox Church in Ukraine, a condition that sparked further legal and ecclesiastical debate.
On April 1, a Kiev court ordered Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed), who administers the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, to undergo house arrest and to refrain from addressing parishioners as part of a set of restraining measures.
In the broader political and cultural context, former Ukrainian authorities have outlined plans aimed at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, underscoring the high stakes and the ongoing contest over control, stewardship, and religious heritage at one of the country’s most revered religious sites.