Monks begin testifying in Upper Lavra court case
Masked activists attended the hearing in the Upper Lavra case and behaved aggressively.
On November 3, 2026, the Northern Commercial Court of Appeal held another hearing in the case concerning the Upper Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Representatives of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve and the monastery presented their arguments, while monks of the monastery, participating as third parties, also began addressing the court. The monastery's attorney, Archpriest Nikita Chekman, reported the developments.
The next hearing is scheduled for November 10 at 2:30 p.m.
Fr. Nikita said the hearing once again took place under pressure from so-called activists. Among those present were Davyd Pshenychnyi and several dozen others, some wearing balaclavas that concealed their faces.
"On what grounds were they allowed to enter the courthouse dressed this way, and why did court security officers and police fail to respond? That remains unclear," the attorney said.
He also stressed that the activists behaved aggressively, pushing and shoving in the courthouse hallways.
Fr. Nikita thanked everyone praying for the monastery and asked the faithful to continue supporting the monastery and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
The UOJ previously reported that the UOC's chancellor had questioned where these activists were when the Lavra lay in ruins.
