Abp Pimen urges Christians to stand up for defence of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

Archbishop Pimen of Rivne. Photo: UOJ

Archbishop Pimen (Voyat) of Rivne and Ostroh has urged all Christians to stand up for the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, reports the press service of the Rivne Eparchy.

"Understanding that now the state enemies of God have a goal – the destruction of the UOC and they are stubbornly heading towards it, I ask all Orthodox Christians to unite for the sake of defending our faith! I ask you to support the vicar and brothers of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. They are now in a difficult but very salutary condition. Let us come to the services, let us support them with prayer and kind words, let us raise our voices in public. Let the words be heard truthfully and loudly, and may God help us," said the hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The hierarch reminded that on March 10, 2023, the National Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra" sent the monastery an ultimatum, in which it insists on the eviction of the brethren by March 29.

"I, as a former monk of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, cannot accept this injustice without pain and therefore I ask all Orthodox Christians to defend the sanctuary, to raise their voices. No, I do not call you to the barricades, not for illegal actions, I urge you to talk about lawlessness in the public plane, in the legal field, to write letters to ministers, deputies, to people who think that they can do anything,"  said Archbishop Pimen.

According to him, officials, driving monks out of the Lavra, "in fact, leave the shrine without prayer, leave hundreds of monks without their home, leave the faithful without a place where they strive with their soul, seeking comfort and salvation. This is reminiscent of the actions "once deployed against faith and believers by old-time Soviet fighters".

"I want to ask the officials who have reached such a limit: Where were you when the monks and the faithful were raising the Lavra stone by stone after the times of the Soviet God-fighting authorities? Where were you when you had to work bitterly every day to restore the churches, the buildings, and the territory? Where were you when the monks were breathing life into the shrine, praying and uniting people?" he added.

As reported, Tkachenko called the relics of the saints "exhibits" and promised to have them inspected.

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