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.

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