A case opened against Lavra’s abbot as he calls Dumenko self-ordained

Metropolitan Pavel, Abbot of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: 24tv.ua

On January 17, 2023, the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine (GPU – hereinafter) began criminal proceedings against the vicar of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed).

The case against the bishop of the UOC was opened under Art. 161, part 2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (“Violation of the equality of citizens based on their race, nationality or religious preferences”), MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn said on Telegram.

According to the politician, it seemed to him that the statements of Metropolitan Pavel during the Christmas sermon about the head of the UOC Epifaniy (Dumenko) were sowing discord among believers.

Yurchyshyn confirmed that it was on the basis of his appeal to the GPU that the case against the Lavra’s abbot had been initiated.

During a sermon in the church in honor of St. Agapit of Pechersk, Metropolitan Pavel called the head of the OCU Epifaniy (Dumenko) self-sanctified, while the head of the UOC-KP Filaret (Denisenko) a schismatic.

However, the MP Yurchyshyn did not mention that during the same homily, Metropolitan Pavel called on the parishioners of the UOC to silence and prayer, and also not to succumb to any provocations of the representatives of the OCU.

As reported by the UOJ, Metropolitan Pavel, the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, said that Ukraine is being destroyed not only from the outside, but also from the inside.

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