OCU “hierarch” Lotysh: People receive crazy money for the defence of Lavra

"Bishop" of the OCU Avraamy Lotysh. Photo: A screenshot from the Priamyi YouTube channel

On 8 September, the "hierarch" of the OCU Avraamy Lotysh stated in an interview with the Priamyi TV channel that some people are receiving crazy money for defending the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery.

Lotysh reiterated that for almost 35 years, the ideology of the "Russian world" has been developing in the Lavra, and that a lack of humility and Christian love, as well as the fact that "it is not beneficial for Moscow", are preventing the clergy from joining the OCU.

"Whenever issues regarding the Lavra arise, all Russian Telegram channels and broadcasts focus on the Lavra. There are people here working on this. They receive crazy money," he claims.

The "hierarch" of the OCU complained that while the monastery's brotherhood challenges the eviction in court, Dumenko's structure cannot legally use all the churches and has to to rent them.

"Until final court decisions are made, they can use all the churches in the Lower Lavra. As for the Upper Lavra, we rent the Dormition and Refectory Churches for a few hours to hold services. The rent reaches up to 40,000 hryvnias," Avraamy explained.

He described this as a "shortcoming".

"How can we develop as a Ukrainian church, Ukrainian monasticism, when the conditions are somewhat less favorable than those of the 'Moscow Patriarchate'," he complained. "They (UOC brethren – Ed.) are currently the ones in charge there. When I'm asked, 'Why doesn't the UOC-MP brotherhood join you?' they simply tell me, 'Sorry, but your conditions are worse than ours. So, for now, we'll stay where we are.'"

As reported by the UOJ, the police have launched an investigation into possible incitement of hatred by Lotysh.

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