MP: Pochaiv Lavra brethren are Moskals, the shrine must be given to Ukraine
Natalia Pipa. Photo: Pipa's Facebook
Member of Parliament Nataliia Pipa has turned her attention to the question of “liberating” the Pochaiv Lavra from what she calls its “occupation” by monks of the UOC. On her Facebook page, Pipa cited the termination of the agreement concerning the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra as an example and declared that “Ukrainian shrines cannot and must never be under the control of Moscow’s puppets.”
Pipa offered no evidence that the Lavra’s brotherhood, made up of Ukrainian citizens, are in fact “puppets” acting under Moscow’s control.
“The next step should be the Pochaiv Holy Dormition Lavra,” Pipa stated. “In April 2023, I registered a resolution in the Verkhovna Rada to terminate the agreement granting the UOC-MP the right to use the Lavra.” According to her, the brethren of the Pochaiv Lavra are “Moskals,” while “this shrine is Ukrainian and belongs to Ukraine.”
She also reported what she described as “important progress” in the Lavra case.
“The Ternopil prosecutor’s office has filed a lawsuit concerning more than 12 hectares of land under the Lavra. The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine is playing an especially important role in this process. It created a special commission to inspect the use of state-owned properties of the Pochaiv Lavra. Following the inspection, the commission recorded a number of violations and recommended terminating the agreement on the Lavra’s use by the UOC-MP,” Pipa said.
She assured her audience that she would “keep pressing until a decision is made to return the Pochaiv Lavra to Ukraine without any compromises.”
“No concessions to the enemy! No Moscow puppets on Ukrainian soil!” Pipa concluded.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that an attempted seizure had taken place at the Pochaiv Lavra.
Read also
Metropolitan Onuphry leads Liturgy at Intercession Monastery of Kyiv
On the Feast of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Primate of the UOC celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Saint Nicholas's Cathedral of the Intercession Monastery and offered prayers for peace in the Ukrainian land.
Persecuted community of Verkhni Stanivtsi celebrates archpastoral Liturgy
For the second year in a row, the parishioners have been celebrating their patronal feast day outside the walls of their church, which was seized by OCU supporters with police backing in April 2025.
Organizers of procession to Bancheny Monastery fined
Chernivtsi region police have drawn up administrative protocols against the organizers of the UOC pilgrimage to Bancheny Monastery.
Remains of OUN-M leader Melnyk brought to UGCC cathedral in Kyiv
The ashes of the OUN leader and his wife Sofia, who had been buried at a cemetery in Luxembourg, were brought to the UGCC cathedral.
Tens of thousands of believers process with Theotokos Belt in Belgrade
On the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, the Primate of the Serbian Church and Athonite abbots led a large-scale procession with the Vatopedi holy relic.
Metropolitan Meletiy supports persecuted UOC community in Dobrynivtsi
The archpastor led the festive service on the eve of the patronal feast and called on the faithful to remain steadfast in prayer.