MinCulture sets up commission to inspect holy relics in Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra
Holy relics of the Venerable Kyiv Pechersk Saints. Photo: citykiev
On March 5, 2025, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine established a commission to inspect the incorrupt relics of the Venerable Saints of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in the Far and Near Caves of the monastery. According to a decree published on the ministry's website, information about the work and results of the inspection will be classified.
According to Order No. 214 of March 5, the Ministry of Culture instructed the commission to carry out an inspection by May 30 to verify "the presence of the relics of saints in the tombs of the Near and Far Caves of the National Reserve 'Kyiv Pechersk Lavra'" and to determine their historical and scientific value.
The document states that if the commission discovers "items falling under the definition of cultural property within the Law of Ukraine 'On the Export, Import, and Return of Cultural Property,' a corresponding list must be compiled and attached to the official report.
The Ministry of Culture has designated all information related to the commission’s work as 'restricted-access information.'
Volodymyr Shornikov, Director of the Department for the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage, has been appointed head of the commission. The commission will be directly supervised by the Minister of Culture, Mykola Tochytskyi.
Previously, the UOJ reported that the Pochaiv Lavra condemned the planned inventory of the relics of the Venerable Saints of Pochaiv, calling it "vandalism and sacrilege."
Read also
TCC detained a UOC priest in Yarmolynetsi in Khmelnytsia region
The TCC abducted the rector of the Intercession parish of the village of Sutkovtsy, Archpriest Volodymyr Stepanyshyn, who is already at a training ground in Rivne.
Church celebrates feast of Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul
On July 12, the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostles' Fast (Peter's Fast) comes to an end for Orthodox Christians.
UGCC cleric criticizes OCU head for awarding Greek Catholic officials
Hieromonk Yustyn Boiko of the Lviv Archeparchy called the awarding of church honors to officials a profanation and cited the example of an OCU order presented to a Greek Catholic official.
Expert who found no defamation in Dumenko’s remarks to face disciplinary action
An Interior Ministry research center has confirmed disciplinary measures against the expert whose findings supported what the Metropolitan’s representatives described as unfounded accusations by the OCU head against Metropolitan Theodosiy.
European Parliament condemns forced Islamization of children in Pakistan
The European Parliament has called on Pakistan to establish a mechanism to protect Christian families.
Church of the Presentation damaged by shelling in Russia’s Kursk Region
The newly built church in the village of Kulbaki, Glushkovo District, was completely gutted by fire after being struck by a projectile.