Ministry of Culture: Further destiny of Lavras is in the hands of the state

Director of the Department for Religious Affairs and Nationalities of the Ministry of Culture Andrei Yurash

Director of the Department of Religious Affairs and Nationalities of the Ministry of Culture Andrei Yurash declared in an interview with Glavkom that such assets of national importance belong to the state and are not transferred to anyone, reports the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

According to the official, the lower parts of the Kiev-Pechersk and Pochaev Lavras were let out to the UOC for rent for a 50 year-term.

“Lavras are state-owned <...> The state provided a lease, and it is the prerogative of state bodies to determine their future fate,” said Andrei Yurash and stressed that if violations were revealed in the sanctities’ transfer procedure, this could be a reason for revising the contract lease.

Earlier on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers a petition was registered demanding to cancel the order of the Cabinet of Ministers on the transfer to the UOC of the Holy Assumption Kiev-Pechersk Lavra for gratuitous use. The Abbot of Pochaev Lavra, Metropolitan Vladimir of Pochaev, informed about the threats against the monastery and asked for prayer support, calling, if necessary, to protect the shrine.

Read also

Church celebrates feast of Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul

On July 12, the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostles' Fast (Peter's Fast) comes to an end for Orthodox Christians.

UGCC cleric criticizes OCU head for awarding Greek Catholic officials

Hieromonk Yustyn Boiko of the Lviv Archeparchy called the awarding of church honors to officials a profanation and cited the example of an OCU order presented to a Greek Catholic official.

Expert who found no defamation in Dumenko’s remarks to face disciplinary action

An Interior Ministry research center has confirmed disciplinary measures against the expert whose findings supported what the Metropolitan’s representatives described as unfounded accusations by the OCU head against Metropolitan Theodosiy.

European Parliament condemns forced Islamization of children in Pakistan

The European Parliament has called on Pakistan to establish a mechanism to protect Christian families.

Church of the Presentation damaged by shelling in Russia’s Kursk Region

The newly built church in the village of Kulbaki, Glushkovo District, was completely gutted by fire after being struck by a projectile.

UOC priests take part in celebrations at Romania’s Putna Monastery

Clergy of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy took part in a festive service at the ancient shrine of the Romanian Orthodox Church.