Odesa Eparchy condemns government’s examination of Pechersk saints' relics

Near Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: Monastery website

The Odesa Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) has issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture’s decision to conduct “research” on the relics of the saints of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

“With great grief and sadness, the Odesa Eparchy received the news that the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine carried out a so-called inspection of the relics of the Pechersk saints in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. We remember similar events in Soviet times, when the authorities conducted the same kinds of inspections,” the statement reads.

The diocese emphasized that such actions wound the hearts and souls of all faithful people in Ukraine, regardless of their denomination. “For a believer, relics are not museum exhibits. For an Orthodox Christian, relics are a source of God’s grace,” the statement continues.

Particular outrage was expressed over the makeup of the commission carrying out the inspection. “As faithful Orthodox Christians, we do not understand the purpose of such a review. Why is a veterinarian included on the commission list? Especially when we know that only once a year do monks reverently touch the relics in prayer simply to change their garments,” the diocese stated.

In response to the situation, the diocese called on believers to pray and to forgive. “We must remember that the holy fathers of the Kyiv Caves do not need our protection. They are very capable of protecting themselves. We’ve already seen this before – inspections of the relics, the closure of the Lavra, mockery of the faithful and the monastic fathers. From a historical perspective, we know that the saints protect themselves far better than the living ever could.”

In conclusion, the Odesa Diocese urged the faithful to intensify their prayers during the days of the fast and to unite around His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, their ruling bishops, and their parish communities. “When the Lord sees that we are capable of forgiving those who wrong us, when He sees that we do not spread gossip or quarrel online but instead pray during these days – then He Himself will ensure that no harm comes to us,” the statement concludes.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that a Greek theologian appealed to the primates of the Churches concerning the sacrilege taking place in the Lavra.

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