Alexander Usik: If they attempt to seize Lavra, I will side with the monks

Alexander Usik

Alexander Usik, the world boxing champion in heavyweight, declared his readiness to defend the Lavra and its monks on the air of the "112 Ukraine" channel.

These words of his were the answer to a question from one of the TV spectators Olga Zaitseva, who asked the boxer about his reaction to possible radicals’ attempts to seize the Lavra and violence against the monks.

“I will side with the monks,” Alexander replied shortly.

He also expressed confidence that the possible granting of the Tomos will not change the inner state of each of us if we do not change ourselves spiritually.

“If people become kinder to each other and begin to forgive any offences made against them if they start to love their neighbour as the Almighty loves us, then I am for giving it. But nothing depends on whether the Tomos will be granted or not. Everything depends only on us, only we must create within ourselves both the church, and the family, and love, and everything else. And if we remain angry with our neighbour, it will continue. This is nonsense – what is happening now,” said Alexander Usik.

Alexander Usik repeatedly mentioned in his interviews that he is an Orthodox Christian. He is a parishioner of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, and in his life he is guided by the advice of his confessor.

On August 1, at a press conference, he defended the Cross Procession of the UOC to celebrate the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’.

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