UGCC head: We want access to Pochaiv Lavra

The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Sviatoslav Shevchuk. Photo: pravda.com.ua

The Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, said that the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has a historical right to serve at the Pochaiv Lavra.

According to him, the UGCC has no claims to the property of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church but wants to feel at home in the Pochaiv Lavra.

"We don't want to make any property claims to anyone today. But we say that it is a historical spiritual centre of our Church. <...> Therefore, those who will decide who to give access to the opportunity to pray there should take this into account," he told “Ukrainska Pravda” (“The Ukrainian Truth”).

Shevchuk noted that the UGCC has not yet taken any steps to return the Pochaiv Lavra but is ready to enter into dialogue with those who can create the right circumstances for this:

"One thing is a property claim, and another is the right to pray where our ancestors prayed. We don't question the right of state ownership, but we want to have access to this shrine. We are also trying to develop our own rather than waiting for something to be granted to us."

As reported, Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko said that an interdepartmental commission will conduct an inspection of the Pochaiv Lavra.

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