Lavra comments on the closure of "Life-Giving Spring" Church by Reserve

The "Life-Giving Spring" Church before and after restoration by the brethren. Photo: lavra.ua

The press service of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra reported that on the night of August 14, the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Life-Giving Spring" was sealed and taken away from the Lavra brethren. According to the message on the monastery's website, this event deeply saddened both the brethren and the numerous pilgrims, especially those faithful to the UOC who participated in the sacraments performed in this church.

"According to the order of the management of the National Reserve 'Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra', this church was closed and sealed. The brethren were initially allowed to remove church utensils. Unfortunately, daily services will no longer be held in this church as before," the monastery reported.

The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra highlighted that the chapel was restored after being destroyed during World War II by the brethren.

In 2008, the major repair works were completed, and His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr consecrated the altar of the church. In 2016, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry consecrated the iconostasis, and the church "appeared in the magnificent form that it will remain forever in the memory and hearts of thousands of believers".

"The church became widely known not only to the residents of the capital but also to all pilgrims of the Lavra. It was in this holy church that they usually prayed during services before the relics of St Mark the Grave-Digger, participated in the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, Marriage, and requested necessary services," the monastery said.

According to the brethren, to their great sorrow, their right and the right of the parishioners of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to pray and perform religious rites in their churches have been violated once again. "We hope that government officials and human rights defenders will not only verbally but also actively protect the rights of Ukrainian citizens to freedom of religion," the message concluded.

As reported by the UOJ, there is information in the media that the "Life-Giving Spring" Church will be transferred to the OCU on August 16.

Read also

UOC accuses DESS of coercing the Church into illegal activities

The Church has revealed serious violations in the process of conducting research by the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience and called their requirements contradictory to the laws of Ukraine.