Lavra brethren file a statement with SBI against Minister of Culture
Mykola Tochitsky. Photo: the Ministry of Culture website
On May 26, 2025, the General Investigation Bureau of Kyiv received a statement from the brethren of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra regarding a criminal offense committed by the Minister of Culture, Mykola Tochitsky, reported the monastery's lawyer, Archpriest Nikita Chekman.
The statement indicates that, according to the claim, Tochitsky committed an offense under Part 2 of Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, namely incitement of religious hatred committed by an official. The brethren assert that the minister committed the offense in a comment on his order dismissing Maksym Ostapenko from the position of General Director of the National Reserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra".
As reported, Tochitsky stated that he dismissed Ostapenko due to insufficient efforts in the Lavra against the UOC. In doing so, he used offensive language. In particular, speaking about the monks of the UOC, he wrote that "there should be no Moscow spirit in the Lavra," that "Moscow priests have desecrated the Lavra," and that the country does not have time to wait for the "uncontrolled presence of Moscow monks and further destruction of monuments" to end.
Read also
France to Require Religious Clinics to Perform Euthanasia
The French Parliament has rejected a conscience clause amendment, which may compel religious clinics to participate in euthanasia.
An LGBT publication was found in the toy section of the ATB supermarket chain
LGBT books are being sold in the children's section of the Ukrainian supermarket ATB.
In Russia, an LGBT group killed a member for deciding to become straight
The victim announced his intention to leave the group and pursue a relationship with a girl – after which his accomplices lured him to a deserted place and stabbed him to death.
UOC faithful invited to study iconography in Odesa and Kamianets-Podilskyi
Educational institutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have opened enrollment for iconography programs.
Pope says he wants to reestablish “full communion” with Constantinople
The head of the Vatican confirmed his commitment to achieving full unity with the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Shepetivka Eparchy delivers aid to Sviatohirsk Lavra
UOC priests from the Khmelnytskyi region delivered three tons of humanitarian aid to the monastery in Donbas.