Lavra as a backdrop for a name-day celebration

Buses with OCU “parishioners” from the regions near the Lavra walls. Photo: Fortetsia Lavra

On May 12, Epifaniy Dumenko solemnly marked his name day at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Once again, when the head of the OCU held his events there, “parishioners” were brought to the monastery from various regions of Ukraine. And no one even tries to hide it anymore: with the help of OCU benefactors, buses are hired and people are brought on a “pilgrimage” for the feast of their primate.

And, in principle, they have every right to do so.

Why are we writing about this? After all, pilgrimage to patronal feasts at a church or monastery is a common pious practice. Parishioners or brethren usually prepare carefully for such visits: they adorn their holy places, prepare refreshments, welcome guests, and pray together. But is that what happens at Epifaniy’s celebrations in the Lavra?

The point is that there is simply no one there to “receive pilgrims” – almost no monks and almost no parishioners. There are only the walls of the Lavra churches. In other words, the birthday celebrant brings with him the clergy, the choir, and the “parishioners.” Moreover, these people are not even from Kyiv. Despite the fact that the capital has many OCU churches, Dumenko is unable to fill either the Dormition Cathedral or the Refectory Church with them.

As a result, any service held by Epifaniy in the Lavra is simply an off-site event organized on the principle of “everything I need, I bring with me,” where the Lavra itself is used as a backdrop, a rented venue. Dumenko could just as easily have brought all these people to any church in Ukraine – but the Lavra is a prestigious location, one that produces especially striking photos and videos.

And it is not only Dumenko who uses the Lavra in this way, but also lesser figures. For example, in November 2023, Bohdan Hulyamov, an OCU cleric from the village of Romankiv and a partner of OCU benefactor and crime boss Oleksandr Petrovsky, known as “Narik,” rented the Dormition Cathedral to celebrate his 15th wedding anniversary. At that time, only a few relatives and friends of the Hulyamovs stood in the church. But above them sang a huge professional choir of 30 people. In essence, Dumenko’s case is the same thing – only on a somewhat larger scale.

Thirst is nothing. Image is everything.

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