"Potemkin" monks of the Lavra

"Tonsure" by Dumenko in the Lavra. Photo: OCU

Shortly after the Ministry of Culture transferred the Near Caves, as well as the Holy Cross and Warm Churches of the UOC in the Lower Lavra, to the OCU, all media resources of this structure proudly reported on the "tonsure" of two monks, which was conducted by Epifaniy Dumenko. At the same time, one of them was already a monk of St. Michael's, albeit in the rank of "priest".

The head of the OCU informed the newly tonsured that in the Сaves «rest the relics of many of our Venerable Fathers», and warned that on the monastic path "various trials await them".

And, it would seem, monastic tonsure in the Church is a common phenomenon. Now, during Great Lent, tonsures are performed in the UOC every few days. And this is not surprising: the Church has 260 monasteries and about 5,000 monks.

Why then do we mention Dumenko's tonsure in the Lavra? The answer is simple – for the OCU this is an exceptional event. A search for the phrase "monastic tonsure" on the official OCU website yields only one(!) result – the very one we are writing about. And this is over 7 years of the OCU's existence. On the eparchial websites, only a few cases could be found during this time.

The total number of monastics in the OCU is kept secret. The last known figure is from 2021 – 233 monks. If we subtract the «bishops» from this number, we get a figure of 170 people. Of these, about 50 live in Kyiv. That is, outside the capital, the OCU has about 120 monks. At the same time, there are more than 80 monasteries. Simple calculation shows that on average, each monastery houses 1.5 residents.

It is not surprising that until recently the "OCU Lavra" counted only 6 people: there is simply nowhere to get them from. How they managed to persuade two more remains a matter of speculation. Perhaps they hope to quickly become bishops or head monasteries that the authorities are already threatening to take away from the UOC. However, another question is more appropriate: why did the tonsure happen precisely now, since Dumenko's structure has been operating in the Lavra for almost four years.

It seems the answer is simple, and it lies in the sphere of PR technologies. This technique has already been tested: on March 8, when Epifaniy was "celebrating" in the Lavra the transfer of the Near Caves and two churches, his subordinates organized the delivery of "parishioners" from the Ternopil region. Central media showed footage of the Refectory Church filled with people and admired how people were rushing to the “Ukrainian Lavra.” In reality, the buses left—and the Lavra became empty again.

It seems that the appearance of two monks here immediately after the transfer of the Caves to the OCU is the same kind of PR move.

Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged: the number of tonsures in the OCU has sharply increased. Two people in 7 years – no joke, this is a 200% growth. We await the victorious figures from Dumenko's synod and triumphant reports to the Phanar.

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