MP: Authorities want to put an end to the Lavra issue soon

MP of Ukraine Artem Dmytruk. Photo: spzh.news

Artem Dmytruk, a Member of Parliament of Ukraine, stated that the authorities want to put an end to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra issue and "deprive millions of Ukrainians of the shrine where their ancestors prayed for centuries" in the near future. He wrote about this in his Telegram channel, commenting on the handing over of suspicion to the Lavra Archdeacon Pavlo (Muzychuk).

The MP noted that the monk was not involved in filming videos, did not provoke scandals, and tried to tell only what he saw.

"It is interesting how could the Lavra monk engage in 'subversive activities' in favor of the aggressor state by publishing videos about what was happening near the Lavra? ... A huge number of those who appeared in the frame with Father Pavlo – from the 'mage' Belial who blasphemed church ceremonies to real provocateurs who insulted the faithful of the UOC – did not bear any responsibility or even the slightest punishment for their actions," he wrote.

At the same time, Dmytruk expressed bewilderment as to why the SBU qualified the monk as guilty of "subversive activities," rather than those "who engage in seizures of UOC temples, who constantly discredit the Ukrainian army by wearing military uniforms, who deliberately do everything to divide Ukrainians."

"Do these people not engage in 'subversive activities', and are they not the main culprits of the fact that materials with blasphemy, beating of UOC believers, and cutting locks off UOC temples are featured in the media of the aggressor state?" he added.

The MP is also convinced that the materials provided by the SBU, including correspondence and other materials, do not prove that the monk "justified Russian aggression".

"It is reported that the monk 'justified Russian aggression' in personal correspondence. Of course, the evidence of the SBU was not shown. But there is 'evidence' of correspondence with Shariy, in which black on white you can read a dialogue about the attitude towards the events around the Lavra. At the same time, there are no 'tasks set' or confirmations that the monk was coordinated to record 'provocative videos' in the correspondence provided by the SBU," wrote Dmytruk.

As the UOJ reported, the SBU announced suspicion to the Lavra monk.

Read also

UOC releases updated “Liturgical Guidelines” app for iOS

The new update includes liturgical guidelines for 2026.

United States to increase number of Christian hospitals in Nigeria

American healthcare support is linked to the measures taken by Nigerian authorities to protect the Christian population from violence.

UOC priest describes church seizure in Checheliivka

The dean of the Oleksandriia Eparchy said that representatives of the OCU forcibly opened a church where UOC parishioners had not been allowed to pray for three years.

Chernihiv Jews equate vandalism against menorah to arson of TRC

The Jews of Chernihiv are convinced that the vandals who toppled the menorah acted on Russia’s orders.

Mukachevo Metropolitan hands over aid to AFU and children's boarding home

With the blessing of Metropolitan Theodore, charitable events were held in the eparchy.

OCU takes over UOC church in the village of Checheliivka

Raiders from the OCU, after cutting the locks, broke into the Intercession Church, which was sealed until the court's ruling.