Head of Ukraine’s Culture Ministry Tkachenko says Lavra’s future will be decided after monks are expelled
The future of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra will be decided after the expulsion of the monks of the Canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). The Minister of Culture said Ukraine Alexander Tkachenkotransmits TASS.
According to him, the Lavra is the property of the state, access to which should be accessible to all citizens. “After finally returning to the state all objects on the territory of Lower Lavra, we will consider various proposals and projects on how to fill the territory of Lower Lavra with content,” Tkachenko explained.
Formerly Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra deposit a petition for the return to the ownership of the religious community of the canonical UOC of all buildings on the territory of the sanctuary. According to lawyer Nikita Chekman, the request was filed in accordance with the law “on freedom of conscience and religious organizations”. The lawyer considered it unfair that today the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra churches are state property.
Associated materials:
In early March, the national reserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” obligatory representatives of the UOC to leave the territory of the monastery, announcing the termination of the contract. To this the monks repliedwho will not fulfill the conditions and leave the Lavra, as well as to compromise with the authorities.
On March 30 and 31, the parishioners of the UOC forbidden pass the reserve commission to the buildings they came to check out. Later, police with machine guns were seen there. Ukrainian security forces have also drove paddy wagons at the walls of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.