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.
Read also
DESS: The number of communities joining OCU in 2024 is half of last year’s
Over a year, 232 communities of the UOC changed their jurisdiction.
Scale of internal damage to UOC cathedral in Zaporizhzhia shown online
The video allows viewers to assess the damage endured by the main Orthodox church of the UOC in Zaporizhzhia.
Ex-MP UOC protodeacon Novinsky declared suspicion of high treason
The former MP is accused of "ensuring that a significant part of Ukrainian society, who are believers of the UOC, remain under the direct influence of the leader of the ROC".
St Andrew’s icon survives under the rubble of UOC cathedral in Zaporizhzhia
The icon was painted by nuns of the St Nicholas Monastery in Patras (Greece) and consecrated on the relics of St Andrew the Apostle.
RF missile strike destroys St Andrew's Cathedral of UOC in Zaporizhzhia
The fragments damaged the roof of the building, dome, ceilings, cut windows and disfigured classrooms.
Media shows conditions in which persecuted communities of Volyn have to pray
After their churches were seized, UOC faithful are compelled to pray in poorly equipped facilities.