Ministry of Culture: UOC monks will be forced out of Lavra in a month
Acting head of the Ministry of Culture Rostyslav Karandeev. Photo: Glavcom
Acting Minister of Culture of Ukraine Rostyslav Karandeev said in an interview with Glavcom that the monks of the UOC must vacate the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, otherwise it will be done by force in a month.
"I am, of course, for dialogue, but you have to be persistent. Well, we give them a month. I’m talking about the Lower Lavra. After that, the issue will be resolved by force," he said.
Karandeev noted that most of the monks "are focused on the faith and not on the 'Russian world', unlike church leaders, who were carriers of the ROC narrative".
Karandeev also said that the inventory of monastery property is ongoing, and noted that the process of transferring the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to the state is not as fast as he would like.
As reported, earlier Karandeev said that the Ministry of Culture is working on leaving monastic life in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, but it should be under the OCU. He expressed confidence that for those monks who were not hierarchs, it makes no difference what their Church is called, and only relics and the Lord God matter.
Read also
Kosovo to enact law restricting Serbian Church, experts say
Analysts warn that the new "Law on Foreigners" in Kosovo could restrict the presence of clergy, believers' access to shrines, and increase pressure on the Serbian community.
Congress Speaker: Demand to introduce Sharia law in USA is a serious problem
The Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that there is growing concern in society about attempts to impose Islamic law, which is incompatible with the American Constitution.
UK government introduces restrictions on "anti-Muslim hostility"
UK authorities have adopted a new definition of "Islamophobia" which, according to experts, could provide Muslims with special protection and restrict freedom of speech.
Dumenko brings icon in Church Slavonic to Ministry of Health
Epifaniy presented cardiologists with an Intercession icon, with inscriptions in Church Slavonic, which his structure calls a "sign of the Moscow tradition".
ISIS supporters carries out terrorist attack at anti-Islamic protest in NY
Near the home of New York's Muslim mayor, radicals threw two makeshift bombs at protesters during an anti-Islamic rally.
Hryshchuk: If UOC hands over its church itself, angle grinders aren't needed
An OCU chaplain called on UOC believers to accept the loss of the shrine for the sake of their own "enlightenment".