Reserve closes entrance to Lower Lavra

Reserve statement. Photo: Facebook

The reserve closes the entrance to the Lower Lavra for everyone except priests, monks and monastery workers, the statement posted on the reserve’s fb says.

This was done “due to the systemic obstruction of the work of the Reserve on access to the premises of the Lower Lavra in order to resolve certain issues.” The report says that "the territory of the Lower Lavra should be returned to the use of the state."

The entrance has been blocked since 7 am on August 11, 2023. The Ministry of Culture called it a "temporary" measure.

The text says that the church of Agapit of the Caves, Sergius of Radonezh, the Church of the Resurrection (Afghan), as well as the Refectory and Assumption churches of the Upper Lavra will be open for worship.

It should be noted that the first three churches are located outside the territory of the Lavra, while the Assumption and Refectory shrines are occupied by the OCU.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that according to the lawyer of the Lavra, the reserve intends to expel the brethren from the monastery.

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