Russian Orthodox Church: Kyiv is discussing the transfer of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra to the Patriarchate of Constantinople
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The Ukrainian authorities are negotiating with the Patriarchate of Constantinople on the transfer of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra to it. About it told Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, commented to RIA Novosti.
According to him, Kyiv is considering such a scenario, since they understand that the monks will not agree to leave for a schismatic organization.
“And so the idea arose to transfer them to the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. There is information that negotiations are underway on this matter, some emissaries are expected to be sent from Constantinople,” Yakimchuk said.
The Patriarchate of Constantinople is in a difficult position, he believes, since the adoption of this proposal would mean open recognition of the persecution of the UOC by Kyiv.
The Orthodox Church in Ukraine is represented by two organizations: the UOC (a self-governing autonomous church within the Moscow Patriarchate) and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which is schismatic and is not recognized by the ROC.
The conflict between the Ukrainian authorities and the UOC escalated in March 2023. The leadership of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve terminated the agreement with the UOC and ordered its representatives to leave the territory. In response, the clergy filed a lawsuit in court to challenge the termination of the lease. The hearing will take place on July 19. In April, the Shevchenkovsky District Court in Kyiv placed Metropolitan Pavel, the abbot of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, under house arrest, refusing to allow him to attend services at the Lavra. Russia then demanded the release of the clergyman.
In early June, Ukrainian Minister of Culture Oleksandr Tkachenko announced that a commission of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture ordered the monks to leave the Lavra. In addition, according to the minister, the commission will return 79 objects to the use of the state. Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Kirill called what is happening a flagrant violation of the rights and freedoms of believers in Ukraine and compared the ultimatum with “persecution of faith in times of godlessness.”
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