Lotysh thanks Interior Minister for protecting OCU pilgrims in Lavra

Lotysh and Klymenko. Photo: OCU

Avraamiy Lotysh, the OCU-appointed abbot of the Lavra, received Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and thanked him for the “high efficiency, professionalism, and proper maintenance of law and order” on the monastery grounds. This was reported on the official Facebook page of the OCU monastery on May 31, 2026.

According to the post, during the meeting Lotysh briefed the interior minister on the “current state of affairs” in the Lavra, while the parties discussed “deepening cooperation” between the monastery and units of Ukraine’s National Police “for the safety of believers and the preservation of cultural heritage.”

Lotysh said that “thanks to the coordinated work of law enforcement officers, pilgrims and clergy are able to remain safe during services.” He also “expressed sincere gratitude to the minister for the high efficiency, professionalism, and proper maintenance of law and order” on the Lavra’s territory. Lotysh did not specify exactly which police actions in the Lavra he had in mind.

Recall that in 2023 police officers oversaw the “return to the state” of the buildings and churches of the Lower Lavra, during which pilgrims were expelled from the monastery grounds, while those staying in the Lavra’s guesthouses had food deliveries blocked.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that “parishioners” were bused to the Lavra for Epifaniy’s name day.

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