Culture Ministry allows OCU to "serve" on 7 January at Dormition Cathedral

Epifaniy Dumenko was granted a one-time permission to "worship" at the Lavra’s Dormition Cathedral. Photo: gorthodox.com

On January 5, 2023, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy authorized "Metropolitan" Epifaniy to hold a "Christmas service" at the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Cave Lavra, and the Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra" signed an agreement with the OCU to conduct a "service" on January 7 from 8:00 am to 12 noon, reports the BBC.

The head of the reserve Oleksandr Rudnyk said that he received a petition from the OCU and the order of the Ministry of Culture on the afternoon of January 5 and gave permission for the "service" in the Dormition Cathedral.

"That conversation in the video (when Rudnyk said he had not received a petition from the OCU – Ed.) took place in the morning yesterday. There was no order for worship at that time. But in the afternoon, I received a request from the OCU to hold a worship service and get permission from the Ministry of Culture. I gave permission and made an agreement for the divine service on January 7. I have all the documents now," Rudnyk said.

He added that it goes about a one-time lease of the church for a "worship service”.

According to the head of the reserve, law enforcement forces will ensure that the event takes place without incident.

As reported, the UOC suggests possible provocations from the OCU on Christmas Day.

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