Ministry of Culture plans to transfer all Lavra churches to OCU, source says
Reserve staff outside the Exaltation of the Cross Church. Photo: Fr Nykyta Chekman’s Telegram channel
Before Great Lent, the Ministry of Culture intends to block the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra brotherhood’s access to all churches of the monastery, excluding the Agapitus Church, which is effectively located outside the monastic enclosure. The churches are to be handed over to the OCU. The UOJ learned this from its own sources.
On the morning of February 17, 2026, reserve staff broke in and replaced the locks on the last two churches to which the monks still had access – the Exaltation of the Cross Church and the Church of All the Venerable Fathers of the Caves (the Warm Church). As a result, on the eve of Great Lent the brotherhood reportedly has nowhere to serve except the Conception of St Anne Church. Access to the shrines is to be given to six OCU monks who additionally serve as employees of the Ministry of Culture.
Recall that on February 2, 2026, the Ministry of Culture announced that two buildings in the lower part of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra were being granted to the OCU for free use: Building No. 70, which housed the residence of Metropolitan Onufriy, and Building No. 49, which contained the chancery of the UOC Kyiv Metropolia.
Read also
Historic synagogue to be restored in Stryi
Stryi authorities and the Spadshchyna.UA foundation presented a concept for restoring a historic synagogue and creating a cultural center in it.
UOC hierarchs lead feast day of Staryi Broskivtsi parish
Metropolitan Meletiy led the patronal feast at the Church of St. Paraskeva in Stari Broskivtsi.
UOC chapel church consecrated in Teklivka, Vinnytsia region
The chapel Church of the Praise of the Mother of God has been consecrated in the Mohyliv-Podilskyi Eparchy.
UOC priest blesses new equipment at Kamianske city hospital
Archpriest Dionysiy Pankov blessed X-ray rooms and an MRI machine at the Kamyanske city hospital.
Odesa's Iveron Monastery honors miraculous icon of the Mother of God
The UOC's Holy Iveron Monastery in Odesa celebrated its patronal feast in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God.
Innsbruck Catholic church to be converted into bouldering gym
A Catholic church in Innsbruck, Austria, is going to become a bouldering gym.