UOC Primate: No petition can decide Lavra’s fate

Primate of the UOC Metropolitan Onuphry, His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine. Photo: a screenshot of the video on the UOJ YouTube channel

On May 9, 2020, during a conversation with reporters at the Eternal Flame in the Park of Eternal Glory, the Primate of the UOC, Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, commented on the petition for the transfer of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to the OCU. The video recording of the interview with His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry was published on the UOJ YouTube channel.

“In exactly the same way, one can collect signatures for any building that belongs not to them, but to someone else. I liked it, I collected signatures and I want to take possession of it. You should build, not collect signatures! Then you will own the Lavra. Our ancestors built the Lavra and we pray there for them and for the present and future generations,” the Primate of the UOC emphasized.

He noted that such attempts to seize the Lavra look artificial.

“This is all so artificial and thinly-veiled ... The Lavra is a monastery in which many monks live. They work, pray for our Ukraine, help the country as much as they can. And here, whoever wants to, has signed up and is going to seize the Lavra,” said His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.

The Primate of the UOC prayed for the repose of those who died during World War II and laid flowers at the Eternal Flame in the Park of Eternal Glory.

Read also

Amsterdam criticizes anti-UOC law in British media

On the air of a British TV channel, lawyer Amsterdam stated about the torture of clergy, church seizures, and the adoption of the anti-UOC law that violates the Constitution of Ukraine.

Kyiv street and square to be renamed after Caucasian imams

The capital authorities abandoned Soviet toponyms and immortalized figures associated with the North Caucasian resistance.

Relics of Sts. Job and Amphilochius of Pochaiv permanently given to Khmelnytskyi church

On the Feast Day of St. Nicholas, the relics from the Pochaiv Lavra were brought to the St. Nicholas Cathedral, which will henceforth become a permanent place of prayerful veneration for the faithful.

In Kyiv, His Beatitude consecrates St. Nicholas Sviatosha Church

In the Sviatoshynskyi district of the capital, the Primate of the UOC performed the rite of consecration and led the Liturgy with prayers for peace, warriors, and the suffering.

In Kvasyliv, UOC believers celebrate 130th anniversary of Sts Peter and Paul Church

The hierarchs of the UOC led the solemn Liturgy in the Rivne region; during the service, prayers were offered for peace, the defenders of Ukraine, and all those in need.

His Beatitude: One deprives oneself of God’s gifts by failing to thank Him

During a sermon at the Church of St Nicholas Svyatosha in Kyiv, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry reminded the faithful that ingratitude spiritually impoverishes a person.