Ostapenko calls the book by OCU "hierarch" Moscow propaganda

Director of the Lavra Lavra Reserve Maksym Ostapenko, Photo: a screenshot of the YouTube channel “Ukrainska Pravda”

Director of the Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra" Maksym Ostapenko said in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda why, in his opinion, Lavra was "the centre of the Russian world".

Ostapenko showed journalists the images of the royal Passion-Bearers found in the Lavra's buildings, old church calendars with photos of Patriarchs Alexis and Kirill. But especially he drew attention to printed materials defending the canons of the Church.

In particular, he picked up a brochure by former Metropolitan Oleksandr (Drabinko), "Why schismatic groups in Ukraine are called non-canonical", calling it "solid propaganda published either in Russia or based on Russian narratives."

"Everything is published either in Moscow or St. Petersburg," Ostapenko said, admitting that "some of these materials are outdated". "But I understand how Ukrainians have been pumped for decades," he emphasized.

The Director of the Reserve was particularly outraged that in the pastoral word of Metropolitan Onuphry in the calendar for 2023, "there is not a single word about war or tortured children," and in liturgical directives, the word "Ukraine" appears only in the title of His Beatitude.

As earlier reported, according to Ostapenko, the Russian Orthodox Church allegedly declared anathema to St Petro Mohyla.

Read also

UOC's Social Department reports on aid provided during 1000 days of war

Millions of hryvnias in financial aid and hundreds of tons of humanitarian assistance were provided during this period.

On 1000th day of war, UOC opens exhibition dedicated to Church's mission

Before the exhibition's opening, a memorial service was held for those who perished and died during the war, as well as a prayer service for AFU soldiers and for Ukraine.

Zelensky on the Church: The era of those who sanctify terror is over

The President stated that in Ukraine, there is dialogue between the state and all religious communities.

Orthodox Church sacristan brutally murdered in Russia

The murdered man left behind three children.

Satanic show to be held in Prague as a counter to St. Nicholas feast

Terrifying creatures will scare children instead of giving them gifts.

Papal Nuncio in Kyiv: War is from the devil, it makes no sense

Visvaldas Kulbokas believes the Church's mission is to call for the urgent need to end the war.