UOC hierarch on MinCulture's inspection of relics in Kyiv Lavra: "Devils"

Bolsheviks before the relics of saints. Photo: facebook.com/arh.iona

On March 6, 2025, Archbishop Iona (Cherepanov) sharply criticized representatives of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, who announced the creation of a commission to "inspect" the relics of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

In his Facebook account, the bishop wrote: "Devils, Lord forgive me! Will the venerable saints endure such sacrilege? Or will they harshly admonish the modern Leninists?"

Archbishop Iona accompanied his post with a photograph showing a group of Bolsheviks standing before the relics of saints.

The day before, on March 5, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine signed an order to establish a commission tasked with inspecting the remains of saints resting in the Near and Far Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

According to Order No. 214, the commission must conduct a "study" of the holy relics by May 30, 2025, assess their historical and scientific value, and compile lists of items classified as cultural heritage.

As stated in the document, the results of the commission’s work will be classified and designated 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. Oversight of the commission's work has been entrusted to Ukraine's Minister of Culture, Mykola Tochytsky.

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