Abbot: Dumenko requests for Holy Cross Church of the Lavra

Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshhorod and Chernobyl, abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: lavra.ua

The head of the OCU, Epifaniy Dumenko, appeals to state authorities with demands to transfer the Holy Cross Church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to its structure, said Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshhorod and Chornobyl in a video message.

“The so-called “metropolitan” of the OCU has already demanded from the authorities, from the Ministry of Culture, that they be allowed to serve at the Holy Cross Church,” the bishop said.

He recalled that the OCU had already received the opportunity to use the largest Lavra churches – the Dormition and the Refectory. “And the fact that you don’t have people – like church, like parish,” Vladyka paraphrased the proverb.

He recalled that the feast of the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos (Saturday Akathist) is approaching.

“The Mother of God is with us, the Mother of God is on our side because we are Her children. Despite the fact that you took away the Dormition Cathedral (pray if you want), you drove Her out of there with your presence. And believe me: She cannot and will not be there, because the Mother of God is the Image of love and mercy. Do not interfere with us in these holy days to pray and ask God for the end of the war so that our youth, our guys will return, so that the Lord will put a barrier to evil,” the abbot noted.

“I want to remind Epifaniy once again: nothing will come of you, because you are not the Church. The Church does not do what your [followers] do: they cut castles, beat people, take away temples, close temples, and no one goes there. Beware. You will answer for all of this. Look at history,” the metropolitan emphasized.

As reported, on March 29, 2023, Epifaniy Dumenko appealed to the authorities with a request to provide the OCU with a temple on the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra for the new "brethren" of the monastery.

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