Relics in the Lavra placed under “tests” by microbiological laboratory

Far Caves of the Lavra. Photo: website of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

The microbiological laboratory of Sumy State University “EKOMEDKHIM” conducted “tests” on the relics of the Venerable Fathers of the Caves in the Far Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, reports the Lavra’s lawyer, Archpriest Nikita Chekman, who published the Ministry of Culture’s response to his attorney’s inquiry.

According to Deputy Minister Serhiy Belyaev, the testing protocols conducted on July 7, 2025, by the microbiological laboratory were carried out “in accordance with the Action Plan for the Preservation of the Far Caves (Building No. 91), approved by the Reserve’s order of July 28, 2025.”

Beliayev stated that the “tests” on the relics were conducted within the framework of the work of the Ministry of Culture’s commission, created in March 2025.

He refused to provide any information about the “tests,” referring to paragraph 3 of the order establishing the commission, which states that this information is classified as restricted access.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Lavra Reserve refused to provide information about manipulations with the relics.

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