Reserve: Unveiling Mazepa's bust marks a new era for Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra
Museum workers unveil a bust of Mazepa in the Lavra. Photo: Kotliarevska's FB page
On December 1, 2025, the director of the Lavra Reserve, Svitlana Kotlyarevska, announced that a bust of Hetman Ivan Mazepa had been installed in one of the rooms. “We are beginning a new era of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra,” Kotliarevska wrote on social media.
She linked the installation of the bust to the anniversary of Ukraine’s independence referendum, seeing a symbolic connection between the two events.
The director added that the Lavra, like the rest of Kyiv, had been undergoing scheduled power outages, and on the day of the unveiling, the electricity came back on earlier than expected. She took this as a “symbolic sign” that “the light of truth always prevails, and we, together with our team and partners, are moving in the right direction.”
Earlier, the UOJ reported that in the Lavra’s Refectory Church, the authorities questioned whether Ukrainians are proud of their citizenship.
Read also
UOC hierarch leads funeral service for Kyiv Eparchy priest killed at front
Metropolitan Augustine conducted the funeral service for Archpriest Viacheslav Lytvynenko, a longtime military chaplain.
Orthodox youth from across Ukraine meet in Kyiv
The UOC meetup brought participants from different eparchies to the capital for live fellowship and dialogue on spiritual topics.
Khmelnytskyi Eparchy choir performs hymn by Patriarch Ilia
The choir of the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy performed a sacred work by Patriarch Ilia on the day commemorating his repose.
Metropolitan Shio: Patriarch Ilia II’s love became a source of faith and hope
In Georgia, Metropolitan Shio said in his sermon on the 40th day after Patriarch Ilia II’s repose that his love and ministry became a source of faith, hope, and spiritual renewal for the people.
Orthodox Christians in U.S.: “War on Faith” bill ignores persecution of UOC
The St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco Society has accused Congressmen Joe Wilson and Don Bacon of “double standards” in drafting a religious freedom bill concerning Ukraine.
UOC Social Department in Kyiv delivers aid to 100 displaced families
In Kyiv, displaced families received humanitarian aid, food and household packages, as well as Paschal greetings from the UOC Social Department.