The expert assessed the situation around the Lavra: “Only the United States can return it to the UOC”

The abbot of the monastery was hidden from the flock in a village 20 km from Kyiv

April Fool’s Day in Ukraine was used for its intended purpose. On Saturday morning, residents of Nezalezhnaya watched the insane process of issuing a preventive measure against Metropolitan Pavel, the governor of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. All this action – from the morning search of the SBU in the governor’s residence to the evening demonstrative (under the camera) hoisting an electronic bracelet on the leg of an elderly priest – was like a bad dream. True, it completely fits into the logic of the actions of the current Ukrainian authorities.

Ukrainian Orthodox began to expect some filth from the authorities immediately after Metropolitan Pavel unleashed his anger on President Zelensky, urging him to come to his senses and not take the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra from the believers. Most of the citizens of the Square have big doubts about the ability of the comedian-president to “think their heads”. Therefore, provocations from the authorities were expected. And they waited. Only this was not the notorious storming of the Lavra by the radicals, but a more sophisticated method, repeatedly tested: they decided to simply arrest the governor of the Lavra, thereby “decapitating the protest.” The performance was played like clockwork: in the morning the metropolitan was charged with “violating the equality of citizens on religious grounds and justifying Russian aggression”, after a search in the residence, they showed the public vivid evidence of guilt – Orthodox icons and a certain medallion with a double-headed eagle. Then the viceroy, having been torn away from the flock, was taken to court, where the elderly man was brought to a diabetic attack (his blood sugar dropped). The court even decided to postpone the consideration of the case until Monday. But it was not there. Apparently, on orders from above, Metropolitan Pavel was taken from the hospital back to the court session, where this time the decision was quickly announced: to send the viceroy under round-the-clock house arrest. And not to the monastery, but away from the flock – to the village of Voronkov, Boryspil district, Kyiv region, which is located 20 km from the capital. Metropolitan Pavel has a large country house there. It is forbidden for the governor to conduct services and communicate with believers. True, the court left Metropolitan Pavel the right to make video messages…

Will the Ukrainian authorities now be able to suppress the resistance of the defenders of the Lavra? On Sunday, it seems that there were even more believers who came to the morning prayer service: everyone did not fit into the temple, they prayed in the square. The service was led by Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine himself. Supporters of the OCU, who raged on Saturday in the square in front of the Lavra, have disappeared somewhere. Perhaps they are resting and waiting for the go-ahead for new provocations. The situation in Kyiv was commented on by Ukrainian political scientist Vasily Stoyakin:

– The arrest of the governor of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is not surprising. All the people watching the process were waiting for something like this. That they would start detaining and arresting, many assumed. Legally, not everything is perfect there, because the monastic brethren can be evicted from the Lavra only by a court, which has not yet taken place. But I am sure that the court would decide to transfer the Lavra to the state. Why Zelensky did not wait for the court decision? Probably, in order to arrange a series of striking demonstrative detentions, in an attempt to reduce the authority of the leadership of the UOC.

— Can such actions lower the authority of the clergy of the UOC? After all, on the contrary, they act as victims of arbitrariness?

“But Zelensky is bringing criminal charges against them. It is also necessary to pay attention to the campaign to discredit the higher clergy of the UOC, which is now launched in the Ukrainian media. Everyone began to tell in unison what brand of scarf Vladyka Pavel had, what kind of watch he had…

“But this campaign has been going on for a long time, and those parishioners who now spend the night in the Lavra and pray every day have read it all repeatedly. Can this affect their resolve?

– Being deprived of leadership and without any sharp movements from the authorities in the form of assaults, sooner or later they will disperse.

– And if during this time there will appear their own internal leaders who will lead the confrontation?

They are being transferred too.

– And them – for what?

– If there was a person, but there would be an article. We are dealing with modern Ukraine. What grounds, Christmas tree-sticks. I want to plant – they will plant.

– So you think that the Lavra is doomed?

“The only thing that can save her is some outside intervention. Either by some miracle, Russian troops will end up in Kyiv, or, for some reason, the United States will decide that the Lavra should be kept by the UOC. I don’t really believe in the latter. Well, if you want fresh rumors, “I have them.” Now persistent rumors are circulating in Kyiv that the boxer Usyk is going to be nominated for the presidency of Ukraine, allegedly his candidacy has been agreed with the United States. And right from America, where he was until recently, he found himself in a laurel. People draw conclusions: a public figure will not demonstrate himself so clearly in the midst of confrontation. So – you never know, but suddenly?