Culture Ministry holds identity forum in Lavra’s Refectory Church

On April 20, 2026, Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture held a nationwide forum in the Refectory Church of the Kyiv Caves Lavra titled “Identity as Connectedness: Territories, Meanings, Practice,” according to a Facebook post by Culture Minister Tetiana Berezhna.

“We spoke about how identity determines the level of trust in society, the sense of unity, and a country’s ability to function as an integral system. We also spoke about how stories create a sense of commonality, help people understand one another, and forge bonds between them,” Berezhna wrote, offering this brief summary of the event.

The minister did not explain why such a gathering had to be held precisely in an Orthodox shrine.

Chairs were set up inside the church, and a huge screen was hung on the doors separating the Refectory Hall from the Church of Saints Anthony and Theodosius. Armchairs were placed in front of it for the speakers – including Lavra Reserve director Maksym Ostapenko, Youth and Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi, and OCU spokesman Ivan (Yevstratiy) Zoria.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Culture Ministry had held a meeting with international partners in the Lavra’s Refectory Church.