Ministry of Culture "opened" the Far Caves of the Lavra for the OCU

The Ministry of Culture has opened the Far Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra for the OCU. On the morning of July 14, officials and representatives of Dumenko's structure held a joint event at the monastery.

The event was attended by OCU head Epifaniy Dumenko, "OCU abbot of the Lavra" Avraamiy Lotysh, and the abbot of the Athos monastery of New Esphigmenou, Archimandrite Varfolomey, with his brotherhood. On the part of state structures, Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy Tatiana Berezhna, First Deputy Minister of Culture Ivan Verbytsky, and Director General of the nature reserve Maksym Ostapenko were present.

Also attending the opening of the caves were the head of the Institute of National Memory Oleksandr Alferov, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian Policy Mykyta Poturaiev, People's Deputy Mykola Kniazytsky, as well as other staff members of the Ministry of Culture and the nature reserve.

Tatiana Berezhna stated that the opening of the caves is the result of a partnership between the state, the OCU, and the National Nature Reserve. "We are restoring the tradition of Ukrainian pilgrimage, returning the Lavra to its historical Ukrainian context," the official emphasized.

According to her, believers can now visit both cave complexes, including the Near Caves, which were opened earlier in February. However, at present, access to the shrine has been opened only for the OCU, while entry for other visitors is promised only after August 15.

The UOJ previously reported that the Ministry of Culture opened the Near Caves on February 25, 2026, in a "controlled mode."

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