While Reserve cuts locks on churches, Dumenko "serves" in Lavra's Far Caves

Dumenko in the Far Caves of the Lavra. Photo: OCU

On February 17, 2026, while employees of the National Reserve were conducting work to open the churches of the Lower Lavra, the head of the OCU Epifaniy Dumenko performed a "liturgy" in the underground Church of the Nativity of Christ in the Far Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. This was reported on the structure's website.

The "service," as stated, was timed to coincide with the day of remembrance of Saint Theodore the Silent, whose relics rest in these Caves.

According to the published information, Epifaniy was concelebrated by "Archbishop" Volodymyr of Zhytomyr and Polissya, "abbot" bishop Avramiy, the monastery brotherhood, and invited clergy.

As the UOJ wrote, on the same day Reserve employees cut locks on two churches of the Lower Lavra. This concerns the Exaltation of the Cross and Warm Churches, to which the monastery brotherhood previously maintained access.

As a result of the actions taken, the monks' access to the shrines was effectively blocked.

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