Zelenskyy: We will not let Russia steal any valuables from our Lavras
Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: screenshot of Zelenskyy's YouTube channel
On March 12, 2023, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he would not allow Russia to steal any valuables from the Ukrainian Lavra. The President of Ukraine said this in an evening address posted on his official YouTube channel.
“There is a movement this week to strengthen our spiritual independence. Society sees it. And I see the Ukrainians’ approval of these steps of ours – quite legal,” Zelenskyy said, apparently referring to the decision of the Ministry of Culture to expel the UOC from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
The President promised to continue “this movement”: “We will not allow a terrorist state to have at least some opportunity to manipulate the spirituality of our people, destroy Ukrainian shrines – our Lavras – or steal any valuables from them.”
Zelenskyy is sure that such actions of the state will help win the war and maintain unity.
“We can win. We can! If we protect our unity, each other and our state. I thank everyone who cares about Ukraine and Ukrainians! I thank everyone who cares about our unity – and the unity of the world for the sake of Ukraine!” the head of state noted.
Earlier, Zelenskyy said that the Ukrainian would no longer be alienated in the Lavra.
Read also
Priests and laity of Rivne Eparchy donate blood for children with cancer
In Rivne, the UOC clergy and laity have donated blood for children undergoing treatment for cancer.
Kyiv seminary students meet with People’s Artist Larisa Kadochnikova
Students of Kyiv’s theological schools spoke with the legend of Ukrainian cinema, who shared her memories of filming "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors".
Bancheny Monastery reports provocation
The UOC monastery in Bancheny has reported a provocation by unidentified individuals.
Romanian Church to hold joint prayer for peace in Ukraine
On the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine, special prayers for an end to the hostility will be offered in all churches of the Romanian Patriarchate, both in the country and abroad.
Armenian bishops call on authorities to stop Church persecution
At a meeting in Austria, hierarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church reaffirmed their faithfulness to Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians and called on the authorities to stop the persecution of the clergy.
Italian media: Ukrainian authorities persecute the country’s largest confession
The Italian outlet L’Identità reported on mass searches, the arrests of clergy, and the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which it describes as the largest Church in Ukraine.