Patriarch Kirill announced a flagrant violation of the rights and freedoms of believers in Ukraine
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The situation around the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is a flagrant violation of the rights and freedoms of believers in Ukraine. This statement was made by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ in a video message published on the YouTube channel of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).
“It is regrettable that when the state leadership of Ukraine declares its commitment to democratic norms and the European path of development, respect for human rights and freedoms, these rights and freedoms are violated today in the most blatant way,” he said.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church called the demand of the Ukrainian authorities for the monks of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to leave the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra “a monstrous act” and compared the ultimatum with “persecution of faith in times of godlessness.”
On March 10, the leadership of the national reserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” obligated representatives of the UOC to leave the territory and buildings of the Lavra until March 29 due to the termination of the contract.
March 11 Patriarch Kirill addressed to UN and OSCE Secretaries General António Guterres and Helga Maria Schmid, Pope Francis and other international and religious organizations with a request to prevent the forced closure of the monastery. Yesterday, March 15, Pope Francis urged parties to the conflict respect religious sites.
The Kremlin also expressed concern over the current situation. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov urged respond to this “outrageous decision” of the world community.
On March 14, Minister of Culture of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko said that the monks of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) could remain in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra if they transferred to the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Commenting on his words, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, noted that “freedom of religion in Ukraine is held hostage by bandits on Bankova Street (a street in Kiev where the office of the President of Ukraine is located. – Approx. Vedomosti)”.
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