DESS: No claims against Pochaiv Lavra in case it leaves UOC Metropolis

Viktor Yelensky. Photo: Suspilne

On August 5, 2026, DESS head Viktor Yelensky stated that the Pochaiv Lavra will be able to continue its activities after withdrawing from the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC, reports "Suspilne."

A separate requirement of the agency concerns the abbot of Pochaiv Lavra, Metropolitan Volodymyr, who is being demanded to withdraw from the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. "We demand nothing else from him but to provide a decision, a statement, that he is withdrawing from the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church," said Yelensky.

The monastery itself, at the DESS demand, must provide a decision on withdrawal from the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC. "If the monastery eliminates this violation, it will continue to operate. If not, we will be forced to file a lawsuit in court to terminate the monastery's activities," declared the head of the agency. Thus, the authorities made the continued activity of one of the main holy sites of the UOC dependent on breaking ties with the Kyiv Metropolis.

Commenting on the religious procession of UOC believers to Pochaiv, Yelensky acknowledged that the order issued to the Lavra does not prohibit pilgrimage. "Freedom of conscience in Ukraine is not restricted even during wartime," he said. At the same time, the official added: "I cannot say right now whether this procession violated such regulations."

The UOC faithful, procession participants, told "Suspilne" that they had walked to the Pochaiv Lavra for the Feast of the Pochaiv Icon of the Mother of God and prayed for peace in Ukraine. The procession was accompanied by police officers who maintained public order and recorded no violations.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Tetiana Tsaruk countered officials' attacks with the many-thousand-strong pilgrimage of believers to Pochaiv.

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