Criminal case opened against Lavra's acting head after meeting with Dumenko
Lower Lavra. Photo: Telegram channel “Lavra Now”
On June 3, 2025, the complaint filed by the brotherhood of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was upheld regarding the failure to enter information about a violation against the monastery into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations, reports the Lavra’s attorney, Archpriest Nikita Chekman.
A Kyiv court has ordered the Podil District Police Department to enter into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations a report of a criminal offense allegedly committed by Svitlana Kotliarevska, the acting general director of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve. According to the monastery’s legal representative, the offense took place during Kotliarevska’s meeting with Epifaniy Dumenko.
It should be noted that during a meeting between the head of the OCU and Kotliarevska, they discussed the “cleansing” of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra from representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The monks regard such statements as incitement to religious hatred (Article 161, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and a threat to the rights of UOC believers who remain at the Lavra.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that a criminal case was also opened against an SBU officer for his activities in the Lavra.
Read also
TRC abducts rector of community in Sutkivtsi, Khmelnytskyi region
Archpriest Volodymyr Stefanyshyn has already been taken to a military training ground.
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.