OCU synod removes Lotysh as ‘abbot’ of Kyiv Lavra

Avraamiy Lotysh. Photo: Lotysh's Facebook

The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) has officially stripped Avraamiy Lotysh of his status as the “abbot” of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. From now on, Epifaniy Dumenko will serve as the sole head of the Lavra on behalf of the OCU.

At its meeting on July 13, 2026, the OCU Synod ruled that the religious organization “Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (Men’s Monastery)” would be headed personally by Dumenko. The decision effectively removed Avraamiy Lotysh from independent leadership of the monastery as its “abbot.”

The Synod said the move was necessary because of the need for “special attention to the life and activity of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra as a shrine of exceptional church-wide significance.”

Instead of leading the monastery, Lotysh was assigned the role of assistant to the head of the OCU. The Synod recommended that Dumenko appoint the vicar “bishop” of Boryspil as “dean of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra – the monastery’s senior official after him.”

As previously reported by the UOJ, following the shelling of the Lavra, Lotysh called on the monastery’s brethren to reconsider their position and “return” to the OCU.

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