Ternopil Regional Council member says how to take Pochaiv Lavra from UOC
The Pochaiv Dormition Lavra. Photo: zahid.espreso.tv
On January 3, 2023, the Ternopil Regional Council member said that the UOC has a lease for the Pochaiv Lavra until 2052, which can be cancelled, but the local authorities are not authorized to do so, reports zahid.espreso.tv.
The Ministry of Culture and the Kremenets-Pochaiv Historical and Architectural Reserve should undertake the "eviction" of the UOC, according to the head of the Office of Ethnopolitics, Freedom of Conscience and Digital Transformation of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Ternopil regional state administration, Ihor Kulchytsky.
According to him, there are mechanisms for the termination of the agreement, it is not the level of Ternopil regional administration, which has only local attractions on its balance sheet.
"This is not the competence of the Ternopil RMA. The Lavra has been taken on the balance sheet of the Kremenets-Pochaiv Historical and Architectural Reserve of the Pochaiv Holy Dormition Lavra. This is the structure of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine," Kulchytsky explained.
He said that about 20 years ago, the authorities handed over the Lavra to the UOC monastery for free use, but the UOC did not receive ownership of the shrine. This is also confirmed by the decision of the Ministry of Justice in 2018 when a special commission abolished the illegal re-registration of the complex of structures of the Pochaiv Lavra (the Dormition Cathedral, the Trinity Cathedral, monastic cells, the bishop's house, the bell tower, the overgate building) to the religious organization "Pochaiv Holy Dormition Lavra".
"In fact, the property remains on the balance of the reserve, hence the Ministry of Culture. It is just in the use of a legal entity – the Monastery of the Holy Dormition Pochaiv Lavra. There are always mechanisms for the termination of these contracts, any lawyer will tell you that. Specifically, only the Ministry of Culture and the Reserve, which holds the Lavra, can initiate any steps in this situation," said Ihor Kulchytsky.
On December 21, 2022, the Ternopil Regional Council demanded that the Pochaiv Lavra become state property.
As reported, the Culture Minister commented on the situation with the lease of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra's churches.
Read also
At the Zimne Monastery, an event was held in support of families of fallen soldiers
The Holy Dormition Monastery in Volhynia hosted an event to support mothers and loved ones of servicemen killed in the war.
Great schema tonsure performed in Mohyliv-Podilskyi Eparchy
The rite of tonsure into the great schema at St. Paraskeva Church in Mohyliv-Podilskyi was performed by the secretary of the Vinnytsia Eparchy.
UOC’s Myltsi monastery brethren appeal to U.S. authorities for protection
The monks of the St. Nicholas Monastery in Volhynia are asking J.D. Vance and Anna Paulina Luna to defend their rights and help prevent their possible eviction.
Teen who set fire to synagogue sentenced in Kryvyi Rih
A court sentenced a minor to two years of probation supervision after he admitted guilt and compensated for damages caused by the arson of a synagogue building.
"KyivPride" organizers announced dates for holding LGBT march in capital
Activists plan to hold mass events in June 2026.
Monastic tonsures performed at Kyiv Theological Academy
The Rector of the Kyiv Theological Schools, Archbishop Sylvester, tonsured four students of the academy and seminary into monasticism.